I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8375 
To establish the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National Historical Park 
in the State of Illinois, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 14, 2022 
Mr. BOST introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial National 
Historical Park in the State of Illinois, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Prairie du Rocher and the French Colonial 
Historic District are the finest historical and archi-
tectural examples of French Colonial Heritage in the 
United States. 
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(2) Kaskaskia, Fort de Chartres and Prairie du 
Rocher once served as the western boundary of the 
United States. 
(3) In 1763, Pierre Laclede Liguest quartered 
in the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial District in 
the Winter of and founded St. Louis in February of 
1764. 
(4) On July 4, 1778, General George Rogers 
Clark, with the assistance of Father Pierre Gibault, 
captured Prairie du Rocher and the Village of 
Kaskaskia. 
(5) On November 28, 1803, Meriwether Lewis 
and William Clark visited the Village of Kaskaskia, 
seeking Engages and troops to accompany them on 
the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 
(6) In 1818, Kaskaskia served as the first State 
Capital of Illinois. 
(7) In 1825, General Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves- 
Roch-Gilbert du Montier de Lafayette visited the 
Village of Kaskaskia. 
(8) In 1960, Fort de Chartres, the French seat 
of government and primary military station on the 
upper Mississippi River, erected in 1720, was de-
clared a National Historic Landmark. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRAIRIE DU ROCHER 
FRENCH COLONIAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL 
PARK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to assist in the preserva-
tion and interpretation of, and education concerning, of 
Prairie du Rocher and the French Colonial Historic Dis-
trict, and to provide technical assistance to a broad range 
of public and private landowners and preservation organi-
zations, there is hereby established the Prairie du Rocher 
French Colonial National Historical Park in the State of 
Illinois. 
(b) AREA INCLUDED.—The historical park shall con-
sist of lands and interests therein as follows: 
(1) Lands and structures associated with— 
(A) the Creole House (1800), a French 
creole vernacular post in ground (poteaux-sur- 
sol) construction—one of only five remaining in 
the United States; 
(B) the Pierre Menard Home (1803) Men-
ard was the first Lieutenant Governor of Illi-
nois; and 
(C) the Doiron Bienvenue House, post in 
ground (poteaux-sur-sol) construction (1860). 
(2) A portion of the Fort Kaskaskia State His-
toric Site, a 200-acre park, which celebrates the van-
ished frontier Village of Kaskaskia, is home to the 
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earthen remains of Fort Kaskaskia, and preserves 
Garrison Hill Cemetery, where Pierre Menard and 
dozens of veterans are interred. 
(3) Any Federal land acquired under section 5 
and used as in interpretive visitor center complex for 
the historical park. 
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATION; MANAGEMENT. 
(a) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin-
ister the historical park in accordance with this title and 
with provisions of law generally applicable to units of the 
National Park System, including— 
(1) section 100502 of title 54, United States 
Code; and 
(2) chapter 3201 of title 54, United States 
Code. 
(b) MANAGEMENT.—The Secretary shall manage the 
historical park in such a manner as will preserve resources 
and cultural landscapes relating to the history of the his-
toric district and to enhance public understanding of the 
important cultural heritage of the historic district. 
SEC. 4. INTERPRETIVE VISITOR CENTER COMPLEX. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) CONSTRUCTION; LEASE.—The Secretary is 
authorized to construct on Federal land or lease 
space to operate and to maintain an interpretive vis-
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itor center complex to provide for the general infor-
mation and orientation needs of the historical park 
and the historic district and serve the needs of the 
historical park. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—When the planning and 
development of the interpretive visitor center com-
plex, the Secretary shall consult with— 
(A) the State of Illinois; 
(B) Randolph County; 
(C) the Village of Prairie du Rocher; and 
(D) the Illinois Department of Natural Re-
sources. 
(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary is 
authorized to enter into cooperative agreements for the de-
velopment of the interpretive visitor center complex, edu-
cational programs, and other materials to facilitate public 
use of the historical park and historic district with— 
(1) the State of Illinois; 
(2) Randolph County; 
(3) the Village of Prairie du Rocher; and 
(4) the Illinois Department of Natural Re-
sources. 
SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY. 
(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided in this section, the Secretary is authorized to acquire 
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lands and interests therein within the boundaries of the 
historical park by donation, purchase with donated or ap-
propriated funds, and exchange. 
(b) STATE AND LOCAL PROPERTIES.—Lands and in-
terests therein that are owned by the State of Illinois, or 
any political subdivision thereof, may be acquired only by 
donation or exchange. 
SEC. 6. DONATIONS. 
The Secretary may accept and retain donations of 
funds, property, or services from individuals, foundations, 
or other public or private entities for the purposes of pro-
viding programs, services, facilities, or technical assistance 
that further the purposes of this Act. Any funds donated 
to the Secretary pursuant to this section may be expended 
without further appropriation. 
SEC. 7. GRANT ASSISTANCE. 
The Secretary is authorized to make grants to park 
partners for projects not requiring Federal involvement 
other than providing financial assistance, subject to the 
availability of appropriations in advance identifying the 
specific grantee and the specific project. Projects funded 
through grants under this section shall— 
(1) be used only for construction and develop-
ment on non-Federal property within the boundaries 
of the historic district; 
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(2) support the purposes of the historical park; 
and 
(3) enhance public use and enjoyment of the 
historical park. 
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) HISTORIC
DISTRICT.—The term ‘‘historic 
district’’ means the Prairie du Rocher French Colo-
nial Historic District listed on the National Registry 
of Historic Places. 
(2) HISTORICAL PARK.—The term ‘‘historical 
park’’ means the Prairie du Rocher French Colonial 
National Historical Park established by section 2(a). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
Æ 
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