It appears that the Marquis de Lafayette, hero of the American Revolution, had the power to cloud men’s minds. That is the only possible explanation for the varied and confused memories of his brief visit to Cincinnati over May 19 and May 20, 1825.
Bless The American Friends of Lafayette, who will attempt to commemorate the bicentennial of the French general’s residency in Cincinnati on May 19 and May 20 of this year. The celebrants face a daunting task because nothing Lafayette saw in Cincinnati still exists – even the Public Landing was moved two blocks east from where our hero first stepped foot in the Queen City. The modern organizers will bravely soldier on, with a free and open welcoming ceremony at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 19, at what is now the Public Landing, a commemorative dinner and ball, and a remembrance of Lafayette’s “adopted daughter,” Fanny Wright, on whom more anon.
The clouded recollections may be forgiven when we consider the absolute chaos that reigned in our fair city during Lafayette’s stay. In 1825, Cincinnati’s total population was somewhere around 15,000. It is estimated that 50,000 people from hundreds of miles away crowded into town to catch a glimpse of the man of the hour. Just remember (or not) that porta-potties were far in the future…