French Heritage Museum, Kankakee

About French Heritage Museum

French Heritage Museum explores the French involvement in the history of the Kankakee River Valley, from the first explorers and missionaries through the coureurs de bois and fur traders to pioneer settlers from France, French Canada, and Belgium. Visitors learn how French heritage shaped the community's identity and continues to play a distinctive role there. The museum is housed in a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Lemuel Milk Carriage House. Exhibits and collections feature artifacts and documents related to French exploration, trade, and settlement in the region. General admission is free. The museum operates seasonally on Saturdays during published hours and is closed on several holidays throughout the year. It is located in Kankakee, Illinois.