Frog Hollow in Hartford in Hartford County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Marquis de La Fayette
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, March 24, 2007
1. Marquis de La Fayette Marker
A true friend of Liberty, who served as a Major General in the Continental Army with “all possible zeal, without any special pay or allowances” until the American colonists secured their freedom, and whose frequent visits to this State, as Aide to Washington, as Liaison Officer with supporting French troops, and in the pursuit of freedom, are gratefully remembered.
This Plaque is dedicated by the Connecticut La Fayette Bicentennial Committee in the Bicentennial Year of the birth of this great Frenchman, September 21, 1957.
Erected 1957 by Connecticut La Fayette Bicentennial Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1863.
Location. 41° 45.746′ N, 72° 40.911′ W. Marker is in Hartford, Connecticut, in Hartford County. It is in Frog Hollow. Marker is at the intersection
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); Columbus (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Confucius (about 400 feet away); Col. Thomas Knowlton (about 600 feet away); Trinity College (about 600 feet away); Joseph Roswell Hawley (about 700 feet away); Andersonville Boy (about 700 feet away); Orville Hitchcock Platt (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hartford.
Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry for Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. “After Lafayette offered to serve without pay, Congress commissioned him a major general on 31 July 1777. Lafayette’s advocates included the recently arrived American envoy to France, Benjamin Franklin, who by letter urged Congress to accommodate the young Frenchman. General
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 11, 2012
2. Marquis De La Fayette Marker in front of State Office Building
Additional commentary.
1. About the Statue
“The sculpture is a replica of the Lafayette sculpture outside the Louvre, in Paris. After completion of the Paris sculpture, the artist, Paul Wayland Bartlett, gave the plaster model to the State of Connecticut, where it was placed in the State Capitol. In 1930, Frances B. Storrs donated
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, April 24, 2007
3. Satue of the Marquis De La Fayette astride his horse
1932 bronze by Paul Wayland Bartlett (1865-1925) is approximately 12 feet high on a 10 foot base.
There is a small turtle under the horse’s left rear hoof. “The meaning of the turtle is not known, but it reportedly may allude to the lack of speed in which the artist was paid, or the slow progress the artist made toward completion of the work.” The original plaster of the statue was completed in 1907 but it was not cast until 1932.
“The sculpture was originally placed at the intersection of Washington Street and Capitol Avenue, but in 1979 it was moved to facilitate traffic patterns. ” — From the Art Inventories Catalog of the Smithsonian Institution Research Information System
— Submitted November 30, 2007.
Additional keywords. Lafayette Harford Revolution Washington
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, April 24, 2007
4. Statue of La Fayette above the plaque
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, September 5, 2015
5. General the Marquis de Lafayette
This portrait of Lafayette by an unknown American Artist hangs in the Museum of the Historical Society of Maryland in Baltimore.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, February 1, 2012
6. La Fayette Statue
Photographed By Michael Herrick, February 1, 2012
7. The Turtle Near the Horse's Left Hoof
The Legend of the Turtle
After sculptor Paul Bartlett had completed the statue of LaFayette, he waited a long time for the city to mount the statue on a pedestal. It took so long, that he became frustrated and added the small turtle to the statue to show how slowly he thought the project was going. It is told that the city got the message and the work was completed shortly afterwards. But the turtle stayed.
After sculptor Paul Bartlett had completed the statue of LaFayette, he waited a long time for the city to mount the statue on a pedestal. It took so long, that he became frustrated and added the small turtle to the statue to show how slowly he thought the project was going. It is told that the city got the message and the work was completed shortly afterwards. But the turtle stayed.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2007, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 4,179 times since then and 128 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 30, 2007, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 2. submitted on February 3, 2014, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3, 4. submitted on November 30, 2007, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 5. submitted on November 7, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6, 7. submitted on February 1, 2012, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
