ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Hundreds of people greeted the midnight arrival of the French frigate Hermione in Old Town Alexandria early Wednesday morning. People on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge cheered and clapped, people ran long the bulkhead at Jones Point Park, lined Founders Park and crowded Old Town’s City Dock as the tall ship was pulled alongside the pier next to The Chart House. The Hermione (Pronounced: ERR-me-ohn) is an almost exact replica of the tall ship that brought the Marquis de Lafayette to inform George Washington in 1780 that the French would give full aid to help the colonies win the American Revolution.

When Lafayette told Washington the news a tear ran down the general’s cheek, according to the American Friends of the Hermione-Lafayette. A period costume sentry now patrols the ship’s deck, and you can get onboard, too. A limited number of free tickets for timed tours will be distributed at 8:30 a.m. each day at the dock. Earlier, a noon distribution time had been announced, but due to demand, tickets are only available at 8:30 a.m. Hermione tours at the Alexandria Marina: • Wednesday from 11 a.m. — 4 p.m. • Thursday from 9 a.m. — 4 p.m. • Friday from 9 a.m. — 7 p.m. The Hermione will be in Alexandria only through Friday, June 12 and will be celebrated with related activities, displays and historic re-enactors on the pier. Find additional ticket information here.

Line up early if you want free timed tour tix for #Hermione. 32avail at 8:30a. 100avail at noon thru Fri. #WTOP pic.twitter.com/PaP0m9HA9o

— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) June 10, 2015