Rochambeau Day Celebration
More than 245 years after Connecticut stood at the center of the American struggle for independence, the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard will return to one of the most consequential sites in the state’s Revolutionary history for Rochambeau Day on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Connecticut’s Old State House in Hartford. Beginning at 10:45 am, come observe a family-friendly ceremony on the Green by the East Side Entrance.
EVENT DETAILS:
Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 10:45 a.m.
Connecticut’s Old State House
800 Main Street, Hartford
Your RSVP is appreciated! To let us know you are coming, click HERE.
Come meet Generals Washington (John Koopman), Rochambeau and other special guests!
Presented in partnership with Connecticut’s Old State House, the Rochambeau Day commemoration will honor the historic alliance between the United States and France and the meeting of General George Washington and French General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, which took place in Hartford in September 1780.
That meeting helped establish the strategic relationship between American and French forces that would ultimately contribute to the American victory at Yorktown.
And standing guard for that historic meeting was Connecticut’s own First Company Governor’s Foot Guard.
Founded in 1771, six years before the Declaration of Independence, the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard remains one of Connecticut’s most distinctive living links to the Revolutionary era. Connecticut’s Military Department records that when Washington and Rochambeau came to Hartford in 1780, the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard provided security for the two commanders.
The First Company Governor’s Foot Guard, formed in 1771, is the oldest continuously serving military organization in the United States with an unbroken lineage. The First Company Foot Guard was created to serve and protect the Connecticut governor in his travels between New Haven and Hartford.
About Eric Dutaud
Eric was born and raised in Mantes la Jolie near Paris, France but has spent most of his adult life in the United States. As a re-enactor he portrays leading French officers of the American Revolution, including General Rochambeau, who led the French Army on behalf of American independence, and Major General Chastellux, the third- ranking officer in the Army.
About John Koopman III
John was born and raised in the Boston area. His passion for military history began at an early age. He became involved in Revolutionary War re-enacting in 1998 and since 2006 has been portraying General Washington at reenactments in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Virginia.
EVENT PARKING:
On street parking is available. Garage parking is available for a maximum of $10 at State House Square Parking Garage, located at 75 Market Street, just steps away from Connecticut’s Old State House. Please present your parking ticket to the museum’s Visitor Services desk for validation.
Free on-street parking is available after 6 pm and on weekends. Please follow posted parking instructions.
OUR DOORS ARE OPEN:
Connecticut’s Old State House is committed to ensuring all visitors have access to this historic site. Our building is mobility friendly with a ramp on the West side entrance and elevator access to all floors. Our bath rooms on the ground floor are also accessible and have changing tables. If you wish to inquire about special accommodations for a tour or special event, please call (860) 522-6766.