Chicago–Midwest

French Heritage Society’s Chicago-Midwest Chapter advances the organization’s mission to ensure that the treasures of French architectural and cultural heritage survive to delight, educate and inspire future generations in Chicagoland and throughout the greater Midwest.

Their activities include cultural programs featuring local artists and scholars promoting French culture and history, a festive annual gala and summer discovery trips to regional sites with French connections. These events support a balance of restoration grants to sites of historic significance in France and the Midwest.

In 2019, the Chicago-Midwest Chapter launched the French Heritage Corridor (FHC) initiative, which brings together key partners from seven Midwestern states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin) to showcase the rich yet often overlooked French history and heritage that have helped shape the region’s diverse cultural landscape since the 17th century. You can learn more about the FHC on their website, which includes an interactive map of heritage sites in the Midwest and educational modules they’ve developed.