Photo by Rob Shenk.

By DCist contributor Courtney Vinopal.

From a city in Louisiana to a college in Pennsylvania, the name “Lafayette” has been a fixture throughout the United States for hundreds of years. Now, the Marquis de Lafayette’s legacy has been honored with the construction of the Hermione, an exact replica of the vessel on which he sailed across the Atlantic in 1780 to aid American troops, inspired by their revolutionary fight for independence against the British.

The (almost) entirely authentic Hermione is graced by bright hues of blue and yellow, 15 miles of rope, 1,000 pulleys, and 84 crew members dressed in classic 18th century garb. The Friends of Hermione-Lafayette in America launched the project in 1997. After 18 years of construction, the ship set sail from La Rochelle, France in April to embark on a 3,819-mile journey to the United States in homage to Lafayette’s own trip.

On June 5, the Hermione made its first official U.S. stop, greeted by hundreds of visitors on the shores of Yorktown, Va. The choice of site was symbolic; it is where Lafayette’s French troops played a pivotal role at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.

After a stop in Mt. Vernon today, the Hermione heads to our shores. From June 10-12, the vessel will be open to tours for the public in Alexandria. Those interested in getting on the Hermione itself would be best advised to arrive early, as tickets will be distributed only two times—at 8:30 am and noon—on each day.

If you don’t get the opportunity to tour the ship, there are plenty of other events taking place in the area to celebrate the Hermione’s U.S. arrival. Below are some promising picks.

MUSEUMS: Francophiles and history buffs can catch two different museum exhibitions exploring Lafayette’s ties to the U.S. The Alexandria Archaeology Museum’s collection of artifacts from Lafayette’s 1824 trip to Alexandria will be on display through August 31 at Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory Art Center. The Society of the Cincinnati in Dupont Circle is also showcasing “Lafayette and L’Hermione: Symbols of French-American Friendship” through September 6.

LECTURES: On June 11, scholar Harlow Giles Unger’s lecture on Lafayette as a “Teenage Hero” will look deeper into the young Frenchman’s journey to America, one that was remarkable at his age. He first came to the United States at only 19 years old and quickly befriended future U.S. president George Washington.

CUISINE: Union Street Public House is one of several Alexandria restaurants offering a French prix fixe menu on the occasion of the ship’s arrival.

SOCIETY: Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, an 18th century establishment once frequented by George Washington and Lafayette themselves, will hold a Revolutionary Era-themed Lafayette Ball June 13. Before celebrating the Hermione’s departure for Maryland, attendees can relive the spirit of Lafayette with traditional dancing, music, and desserts.