National Historical Park in Illinois proposed under Bost bill

Legislation sponsored on July 14 by U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) would establish the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park in his home state of Illinois.

“Southern Illinois is blessed to have a rich history that began long before the founding of our nation,” Rep. Bost said. “As we celebrate 300 years of Prairie du Rocher, it is vitally important that we preserve this piece of our history for years to come.”

Prairie du Rocher and the French Colonial Historic District are the “finest historical and architectural examples of French Colonial Heritage in the United States,” according to the text of the bill, which says that in 1974, Prairie du Rocher and the French Colonial Historic District, an area of 22 square miles, was created and added to the National Registry of Historic Places, along with the ancient Kolmer Indian site.  

Rep. Bost’s proposed park would include sites in Prairie du Rocher, Kaskaskia, and Fort de Chartres, according to his office.

“Founded in 1722 as a French settlement, Prairie du Rocher once represented the western boundary of the United States,” said Rep. Bost. “Today, its many sites still stand as some of the best examples of French Colonial architecture and culture in the United States.”

The park would serve as the focus of interpretive and educational programs on the history of the French Colonial Historic District, and assist in the preservation of historic sites within the district, according to the bill’s text.

H.R. 8375 has been referred to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee for consideration.