Welcome

Bienvenue

This collection of seven states- Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin- joined by waterways connecting with the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes, transcends borders and is referred to as the French Heritage Corridor (FHC).  

Taking inspiration from waterways, which were the original connectors, we invite you to come aboard for adventure, to become part of a growing community and to create bonds that cross borders. 

Interactive Map

Calendar of Events

Educational Modules

Annual Conference

As you explore the Midwest, you’ll uncover a rich yet often overlooked French influence that has shaped the region’s culture, architecture, and traditions since the 17th century. The French footprint is found throughout the FHC – from place names and material culture – to cultural traditions and events that endure to this day. 

A special initiative of the French Heritage Society’s Chicago-Midwest Chapter, the French Heritage Corridor invites you to experience “la Nouvelle France” through vibrant communities, historic sites, and engaging stories and events that connect the past with the present. 

Cultural heritage isn’t just about the past. It’s about connecting it to the future. Whether you are a passionate historian, dedicated student, or a traveler curious about French history and culture in the Midwest, this is an inclusive network to connect to our shared history and resources and, most of all, the French Heritage Corridor is a welcoming place to explore, learn and have FUN!

A Trader’s Accounts

We can consult documents written by fur traders in order to get to know something about their life. Here, we’ll take a look at a few pages from one of the account books of a Quebec fur trader named Joseph Bailly (1774-1835). Bailly was born near Montreal and worked principally in the area that is…

The Fur Trade

The French in North America quickly realized that this continent had riches that they could exploit via the fur trade. For the fur trade network to function, they depended on Native people, who trapped the animals and exchanged the furs and skins for European-produced merchandise. The relationship between the French and Natives was complex as…

French Heritage: The Beginning

We can trace the beginnings of French heritage in North America to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when France, like other European powers, sent explorers, traders, and settlers to the continent hoping to exploit the riches they were confident they would find here. In the sixteenth century, the French wished to increase trade with China and the…

Publications and Active Organizations

There is much more to explore! Here are some sites you can navigate to, and a list of reference books and articles where you can get much more information. Importantly, be sure to click on the links that are provided on the map of the French Heritage Corridor itself!…

Teaching Materials

The materials here are intended to assist teachers of French who wish to help their students learn about the heritage of the regions that were known in the era of La Nouvelle France as le pays d’en haut and le pays des Illinois. They may also be used by anyone who wishes to read about this history and culture in…

Old French Maps

Just as the French Heritage Corridor’s interactive map helps orient us to the resources available within the region of the Corridor, maps made by the early French explorers and settlers helped them to highlight important features of this territory. The maps changed through time, as the French became more familiar with the terrain of the pays d’en haut and…

Join Us for Our Annual Conference

Once a year, we come together for an action-packed multi-day conference that illuminates the Midwest’s francophone cultural heritage and strengthens our network of institutions, sites and people.

---

This annual conference gives us the opportunity to connect our presentations and round-table conversations to the places themselves by visiting sites within the FHC together. In the warmth of community, we identify opportunities for help as well as our triumphs. 

At the FHC’s annual conferences, you will meet new people, connect through shared passions and come home inspired from this unique event.

Annual Conferences