French Colonial Historic District

The French Colonial Historic District spans 14,080 acres between Fort Chartres and Kaskaskia Island, containing restored colonial buildings and archaeological remains from early settlements. The area includes residential structures, fortifications, and sites that show how French colonists and Native Americans lived in this region.

The district began as a French military stronghold in the 18th century, playing a key role in establishing French control over the region. Fort Chartres served as a strategic center for managing trade and defending territorial claims during colonial times.

The district preserves French colonial houses in Prairie du Rocher and the Pierre Menard House, showing how settlers built their homes and organized their daily lives. These structures reflect the way families adapted to life in this frontier region.

Fort Chartres State Park offers guided visits and information centers to help you understand the sites and buildings. Plan to spend several hours exploring the different locations and examining the restored structures throughout the district.

The Modoc Rock Shelter contains evidence of human occupation spanning thousands of years before European settlement arrived in the region. This site reveals how the same location was continuously important to people across vastly different time periods.