French historian to discuss the Royal Arsenal, Lafayette and the rebuilding of the ship L’Hermione

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Anne Robichaux
The Historic New Orleans Collection
(504) 598-7137
anner@hnoc.org

Vicki Voelker
Gambel Communications
(504) 324-4242
vicki@gambelpr.com

French historian to discuss the Royal Arsenal, Lafayette and the rebuilding of the ship L'Hermione

WHO: The Historic New Orleans Collection and the Consulat général de France à la Nouvelle-Orléans

WHAT: "Rochefort and the Atlantic: At the Heart of the Franco-American Friendship," an illustrated presentation by Emmanuel de Fontainieu, director general of La Corderie Royale de La Rochelle (International Center for Maritime Culture)

WHEN: Monday, June 25
Lecture: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Reception: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St., in the French Quarter

HOW: This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited; for reservations, call (504) 523-4662. For more information, visit www.hnoc.org.

WHY: In 1780 Gilbert Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, sailed from an arsenal in Rochefort, France, on the newly constructed frigate L'Hermione carrying a secret message-France was committing troops and ships to the American cause. On Monday, June 25, the Consulat général de France à la Nouvelle-Orléans and The Historic New Orleans Collection will present a lecture on the historic arsenal in Rochefort and Project L'Hermione, an effort to rebuild the Marquis de Lafayette's ship.

Given by French historian Emmanuel de Fontainieu, director general of Rochefort's La Corderie Royale de La Rochelle (International Center for Maritime Culture), the lecture will be followed by a reception with French wine and hors d'oeuvres provided by the Consul général. The Corderie Royale is one of the main institutions of the historic arsenal on the old royal Rochefort harbor, and its Project L'Hermione in part uses 18th-century skills and materials to reconstruct the ship.

De Fontainieu is a member of the Society of the Cincinnati of France. He graduated from École Normale Supérieure, in St. Cloud, with a degree in modern literature, and later from the Institut d'Etudes Politiques and the Université de la Sorbonne in Paris with a degree in history, specializing in the French Revolution, and in modern French literature.

Founded in 1966, The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center and publisher dedicated to the study and preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. For more information about The Collection, visit www.hnoc.org or call (504) 523-4662.

The Historic New Orleans Collection-Preserving our Past for a Brighter Future

###