CASTINE — In April, the 18th century replica French frigate Hermione set sail from the River Charente in France for the United States. The transatlantic crossing, following the same route it did more than 225 years ago, took 27 days and made landfall in Yorktown, Va., June 5.

Once in U.S. waters along the eastern seaboard, Hermione has made stops and participated in a range of pier side activities, including being part of a traveling exhibition and a heritage village accessible to the public. Hermione's voyage thus far has included stops in Mount Vernon, Va. (June 9), Alexandria, Va. (June 10-11), Annapolis, Md. (June 16-17), Baltimore, Md. (June 19-21), Philadelphia, Pa. (June 25-28), New York City (July 1-4), Greenport, N.Y. (July 6-7), Newport, R.I. (July 8-9), Boston, Mass. (July 11-12) and Castine (July 14-15).

Hermione is expected to arrive in Castine as part of a parade of sail this afternoon, July 14, between 2 and 4 p.m.

The Hermione will be at the Castine City Docks and will arrive Tuesday, July 14 around 4 p.m. The frigate will remain in Castine overnight, and depart for its last stop, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Wednesday, July 15.

Tuesday, from 2 to 4 p.m., Hermione will participate in a parade of ships along the Castine waterfront. The parade will accompany Hermione as it arrives into Castine.

A welcome parade will be held at 6 p.m. and travel down main Street from the Castine Historical Society to the waterfront. There will be a formal welcome ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on the waterfront and fireworks at 9 p.m.

All day Tuesday, (Bastille Day in France) from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., a Bastille Celebration will be held on the waterfront featuring Franco-American and Acadian music, dance, storytelling, local and Maine-made vendors, food and drinks.

Wednesday will be the day to tour the Hermione, which will host public tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Public visits will be ticketed and more information can be found at castinehistoricalsocietyhermione.org/.

The festival continues on the town dock from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with vendors, food booths, wine and beer tasting, music, dance and storytelling, interactive art projects, outdoor film screening, education programs at local and neighboring schools, historical kayak, boat and walking tours and more.

The Hermione Voyage 2015 is part of an expansive outreach program with cultural events, exhibitions and education programs that celebrate the trip and mark its progress, according to the organization's website.

The original Hermione sailed to America with Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette, the Marquis de Lafayette, aboard. It was his desire and dream to take up the colonists' cause and help them fight for independence. A member of the French Royal Army at the age of 14 in 1771, he was joined by several French officers and they made landfall near Charleston, S.C., on June 13, 1777.

According to the history books, Lafayette eventually traveled to Philadelphia and Congress welcomed him - a soldier who volunteered for the cause. And because he was of the highest rank of French nobility, and was motivated by patriotism to the American cause, Congress commissioned him a major general on July 31, 1777.

At the age of 20, he became close and lifelong friends with then-General George Washington, and went on to serve as a member of Washington's staff. Lafayette participated in the closing part of the Battle of the Brandywine and was wounded, but recovered and rejoined the fighting forces. The history of Lafayette's time serving in America officially lasts through 1781, when at the end of the year he returned home to France, where he was honored for his "unusual service in America." He later returned and was involved in other conflicts, and that history can be read here.

Related link:

• MPBN's July 14 story on Morning Edition about the frigate Hermione

• Where is Hermione?

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 706-6655.