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By Linda Derry

Special to The Selma Times-Journal

An Exhibit called “The Life and Legacy of the Marquis de Lafayette” will be on display at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library” from March 18-28.

Lafayette was the French hero of the American Revolution. The exhibit is sponsored by the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, where, on Saturday, April 5,  a grand celebration in honor of Lafayette will be held.  April 5 will be the 200th anniversary of the day that Lafayette visited Cahawba, then the state capital and the county seat of Dallas County.

The exhibit at the library was produced by the American Friends of Lafayette (AFL).  A team of education and museum professionals developed the content. The panels tell the important stories of Lafayette’s life and legacy, including his important role in the American Revolution and his lifelong passion for human rights. Lafayette was America’s founding father who truly believed in liberty and equality for all – and he put his beliefs into action.  After the Revolution, he became an active abolitionist and tried to pull leaders like President George Washington into his emancipation plans.  He fought for religious freedoms for Jews and Protestants in France.  He also supported and promoted women writers and reformers and was a friend to Native Americans.

Back in 1824, with the 50th anniversary of the United States fast approaching, there was a very contentious national election happening.  President James Monroe wanted to bring the nation together by inspiring a new generation with the “Spirit of 1776,” so he invited Lafayette, the last living major general from the Continental Army, to be the nation’s guest.  Lafayette’s triumphant tour of all 24 states that were in the Union at the time was one of the greatest public events of the 19th century.

200 years later, the Bicentennial of Lafayette’s grand tour throughout the United States is the official kick-off event for the 250th anniversary of our nation.  So one panel in the exhibit at the library focuses on the ongoing Bicentennial tour.   It includes a map of the route that Lafayette took while traveling 6,000 miles to visit all 24-states in 1824 and 1825.  Currently, communities all along this route are celebrating Lafayette on the exact date that the hero of the Revolution visited them 200 years ago.  So, after viewing the exhibit in the Selma library, people may join this bicentennial celebration by attending the festivities at Old Cahawba, here in Dallas County, on April 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn more about the nationwide tour at www.Lafayette200.org.

Linda Derry is the Special Projects Coordinator for Old Cahawba Archaeological Park.