Rochambeau Day at Connecticut’s Old State House Features Ceremony with Governor’s Guards and First Litchfield Artillery Regiment
(Hartford, CT) September 9, 2026 – In celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, Connecticut’s Old State House will host the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard, First & Second Company Governor's Horse Guard, and the First Litchfield Artillery Regiment, to commemorate Rochambeau Day on Saturday, September 26 at 10:45 a.m. The public is invited to gather on the lawn for a family-friendly ceremony including a wreath laying and a musket and cannon volley. Afterwards, enjoy refreshments, tours, and conversation with Generals George Washington (John Koopman III) and Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau (Eric Dutaud) with paid admission to the museum. To receive reminders and weather-related updates, RSVP here: https://bit.ly/Rochambeau2026. Those sensitive to loud noise are encouraged to use ear protection.
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. Rochambeau Day commemorates the meeting of General George Washington and French General Rochambeau in Hartford in September of 1780 on the grounds where Connecticut’s Old State House was later built. Standing guard that evening was Connecticut’s own First Company Governor’s Foot Guard.
“This is not simply history that we are remembering. This is history that happened here,” said Major Raymond Hite, Commandant of the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard. “The First Company Governor’s Foot Guard was part of this story. Our predecessors stood guard for Washington and Rochambeau when they came to Hartford, and today we have the privilege and responsibility of keeping that history alive for a new generation.”
The meeting between Washington and Rochambeau led to a historic alliance between the United States and France, who joined forces to successfully trap British General Cornwallis at Yorktown, New York, forcing the surrender of the British Army. This victory led to the official end of the Revolutionary War.
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. The oldest continuously serving military organization in the United States with an unbroken lineage was created to serve and protect the Connecticut governor in his travels between New Haven and Hartford.
“Connecticut has an extraordinary Revolutionary history, and much of it happened right here in Hartford,” said Major Hite. “Rochambeau Day is an opportunity for families, students, veterans, history enthusiasts, and anyone who calls Connecticut home to discover that history for themselves.”
John Koopman III is a highly regarded re-enactor known for his depiction of George Washington in documentaries shown on television, at festivals, and at state and national parks. His military uniform was handmade by the same artisans who produced exhibit items for Mount Vernon. Eric Dutaud, a French born trained re-enactor, portrays leading French officers of the American Revolution, including General Rochambeau at festivals and museums. He wears a historically accurate French officer’s uniform and accessories. The uniform, crafted by the well-regarded tailor Carl Ivarson of North Carolina, includes fabrics from France, embroidery from Pakistan, and a sword from India.
Admission to Connecticut’s Old State House is $8 per adult and $4 for children, seniors, college students, and AAA members. Admission is free for active duty and retired members of the military. On-street parking in Hartford is free on Saturdays. Garage parking at State House Square Parking Garage, located at 75 Market Street is a maximum of $10. Please present your parking ticket to the museum’s Visitor Services desk for validation. Connecticut’s Old State House is mobility-friendly with accessible entrances and an elevator to all floors. Ground-floor bathrooms 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.
Connecticut’s Old State House
Located in downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as one of Connecticut’s state capitols from 1796 to 1878 and Hartford City Hall from 1878 to 1915. Beautifully restored and preserved, this museum and civic space was declared one of the first National Historic Landmarks in 1960 and now operates under a public/private partnership between the Connecticut General Assembly and The Connecticut Democracy Center. Connecticut Old State House is recognized for statewide educational programming including Connecticut History Day, We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution, Project Citizen, and Connecticut’s Kid Governor®.