About This TourWithout the French, there may not have been a United States of America. By 1781, the Revolutionary War had lasted six long years and was not going well for General George Washington. His troops were hungry, tired, and often shoeless. They hadn’t been paid in months, and many were discouraged.
Just when things looked their bleakest, France joined with America against their common enemy—the British. The French provided substantial financial assistance, troops, and ships at a critical time. This was America’s first alliance with another country. The partnership ultimately led to the victory at Yorktown, Virginia, the end of the Revolutionary War and the beginning of the nascent nation of the United States of America.
This tour focuses on the critical period when the French troops arrived in Westchester to join the Americans in their fight for independence and made the crucial decision to attack the British in Yorktown. You’ll be guided to three historic sites where French troops camped during 1781. Follow in the footsteps of French soldiers as they travelled from Smith’s Tavern in Armonk to Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters in Hartsdale, and to Rochambeau Park/Yorktown Grange Fair Grounds.
Tour SponsorsThis tour is sponsored by the
Friends of Odell House Rochambeau Headquarters in collaboration with the
North Castle Historical Society and the
Yorktown Heritage Preservation Commission, with the help of a generous grant from the
Scarsdale Historical Society.
Location: New York
Travel Type: Driving
Tour Duration: 3 hours
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