Lafayette in Western New York
May 27, 2025, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
In our final lecture of the spring program series, Finger Lakes author Christopher Carosa will share the story of the Marquis de Lafayette on the 200th anniversary of his 1825 tour of Western New York. Join us at the Geneva History Museum to learn about this pivotal figure from the American Revolution and his status as one of the first American celebrities.
At 19 years old, the Marquis de Lafayette sailed to America from France to help the young nation obtain its freedom. He would become one of General Washington's closest officers and was instrumental in persuading France to support the United States in the War for Independence. Nearly fifty years later, he returned on a historic tour of the new nation and was celebrated everywhere he went, including in Geneva. From his encounters with Native American tribes to his interactions with settlers and soldiers, Lafayette’s journey illuminates the rich history of the region and its profound impact on the shaping of a nation. Carosa will share the story of Lafayette’s extraordinary journey through Greater Western New York in this program, drawn from his book, History Unleashed: Lafayette’s Remarkable Tour of the Greater Western New York Region.
Christopher Carosa, Deputy Historian for the Town of Mendon, NY, and known to many as the “hamburger historian,” is a popular and entertaining speaker. As an award-winning financial writer he has been published widely in national media including Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Fox Business News among others. A long-time newspaper columnist, he has written the Greater Western New York History series, five other books, and a stage play. He lives in Mendon, New York with his wife, Betsy.
For more on Christopher and his work, please visit chriscarosa.com.
The lecture series is supported in part by the Samuel B. Williams fund for programs in the Humanities and is open to the public. There is a suggested donation of $5 to support our programming. For more information about the lecture, call the Historic Geneva office at 315-789-5151.
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