13 May 2022

Where is the French Heritage Corridor?


Credit: Wikipedia Commons-Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

Did you know that a French Heritage Corridor (FHC) is being developed? I learned about the FHC in the Spring 2022 Edition of the Michigan Genealogical Council Newsletter. The newsletter is available on the front page of the MGC's website and is free for anyone to view. The article about the French Heritage Corridor is on page 12.

The French Heritage Corridor is a creation of the French Heritage Society (FHS) Chicago Chapter. According to their website, "the mission of the non-profit FHS is to promote l’amitié between the United States and France; to raise funds for restoration projects in France and the United States; and to provide educational exchange and internship opportunities for university students in France and the U.S." 

The Chicago chapter's emphasis is on the following Midwest states-Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The FHC initiative will focus on these states as well.

Michigan will be part of this initiative and I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this project. Seven Michigan organizations have expressed an interest in the project. Hopefully, more Michigan organizations will come on board as more is learned about the FHC. The seven organizations are:

 Alliance Française de Kalamazoo French-Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan

 Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project

 Joseph L. Peyser Endowment for the Study of New France

 Mackinac State Historic Parks 

 Monroe County Museum System 

 Niles History Center (Fort St. Joseph Museum)

 River Raisin National Battlefield Park

French Canadian ancestry is a big part of Michigan's history. The French Heritage Corridor will celebrate this history for all to explore.

If you would like more information, check out the following:

1. Michigan Genealogical Council Spring 2022 Newsletter

2. Kankakee Daily Journal

3. French Canadian Heritage Corridor .pdf


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