Washington Public Library

Forging a Friendship: Jefferson & Madison
2026-02-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Forging A Friendship: Jefferson & Madison
Join us!
In celebration of Presidents’ Day, the library hosts a live streaming event by acclaimed author and professor Louis Masur. This is a special lecture titled “Forging a Friendship: Jefferson and Madison’s Northern Journey.”
Between May and June of 1791, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison traveled together through Upstate New York and New England. Though the nation faced political tension, the journey focused on health, recreation and curiosity.
Masur will explore their shared interests in landscape, botany, history and Indigenous vocabulary, drawing from his latest book, Founding Friendships: Jefferson, Madison, and the Northern Tour of 1791, which sheds new light on the enduring bond Jefferson later called “a source of constant happiness.” Join us at noon on Wednesday, February 18.
