French Colonial Historic District, Historic district in Prairie du Rocher, United States.

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 holds over a dozen French houses in Prairie du Rocher, among them the poteaux-sur-sol Creole House and the 1735 Meilliere House. The Pierre Menard House, the only surviving building from Illinois' first state capital at Kaskaskia, is also within the district.

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 is one of four Native American archaeological sites in the district, alongside the Kolmer, Waterman and Henke sites. It lies within the same 14,080-acre district as Fort de Chartres and Prairie du Rocher, so precolonial and French colonial remains are protected under one 1974 listing.