18th century French warship replica Hermione visits Alexandria

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hah! It's a mash-up. All the kids are doing it.

18th century French warship replica makes historic voyage to America

By Kathy Stewart | @KStewartWTOP June 7, 2015 10:12 am



The replica ship called the Hermione and its crew made the trans-Atlantic trip from Rochefort, France; the same place where Lafayette left on his journey to America back in 1780. (Courtesy of York County, Virginia)

WASHINGTON — It was a battle a young America was losing — the battle for independence. That was until the French stepped in, providing the edge America so desperately needed in its revolution against the British.

A young Frenchman played a pivotal role in helping secure independence from Great Britain. His name was Marquis de Lafayette, and he was on board a French warship in 1780 that helped change the course of American history.

Now a full-scale replica of that French frigate called the “Hermione” is on a historic voyage heading up the East Coast, making 12 stops along the way.

Beginning in Rochefort, France — the same place where Lafayette left on his journey to America in 1780 — the tall ship then arrived at its first port in Yorktown, Virginia (June 5-7). It stops at Mount Vernon on June 9, then on Wednesday it will anchor for three days (June 10-12) in Old Town Alexandria along the waterfront. It goes from there to Annapolis and then Baltimore, Md.

Hermione Visits Alexandria

This summer, Alexandria welcomes Hermione, an exact replica of the ship that brought the Marquis de Lafayette to George Washington with news of full French aid in 1780, turning the tide of the American Revolution. To commemorate Lafayette's historic voyage, the reconstructed French tall ship will sail 3,819 miles from France to the U.S. before docking in Alexandria, the ship's Washington, D.C. port of call and one of 12 iconic stops on its tour.

On June 10, 11 and 12, 2015, Alexandria will host Hermione and pier-side activities, while celebrating the city's French connections for 10 days, June 5-14, with special lectures, an historic ball at Gadsby's Tavern, and special French offerings from Alexandria restaurants. Alexandria's historic sites will interpret Lafayette's role in the American Revolution as well as his return trip to Alexandria in 1824. Leading up to the June festivities, look for May lectures and the ‘Lafayette in Alexandria' Day with free museum open houses.

•Special events
•Restaurant offerings

Pier-side activities June 10, 11 and 12 include historic shipbuilding and Virginia colonial crafts demonstrations, costumed characters, French 18th-century musical performances from Opera Lafayette, interpretive stations with the 1st Virginia Regiment and Alexandria Seaport Foundation, and a traveling photographic exhibition that tells the story of Hermione, its reconstruction, and Lafayette's role in the American Revolution.

•Open to the public on June 10 - 12, 2015 from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Limited Hermione tours at the Alexandria Marina on:

•Wednesday, June 10 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
•Thursday, June 11 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
•Friday, June 12 from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

*Final boarding begins 30 minutes prior to closing time (3:30 p.m. on Wed. and Thurs.; 6:30 p.m. on Fri.)

[Sherman A1]

1. K&R!

[underpants]

2. First stop was Yorktown VA last week

They did a 21 gun salute in the York River and then partied in the Pub - a few of my friends were in the Pub that night.

[pinto]

3. Kick.

+1