Prairie State Wire

The Jarrot Mansion State Historic Site in St. Clair County, Illinois, will open its doors to the public on July 12 to celebrate Bastille Day and the state's French heritage. This event provides a rare opportunity for visitors to tour the oldest brick building in Illinois.

Typically accessible only by request, the mansion will welcome visitors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 12. It is located near the intersection of Illinois Route 3 and Illinois Route 157 in Cahokia. The nearby Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site will also be open during this time. Both sites are managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources with assistance from volunteers of the Jarrot Mansion Project.

Constructed in 1810 by Nicholas Jarrot, a refugee from the French Revolution, the mansion stands as a testament to his influence as a prominent landowner and businessman during Illinois' journey toward statehood. Jarrot's Federal-style mansion contrasts with the timber buildings typical of that era.

Bastille Day, observed on July 14, marks France's national day commemorating when revolutionaries stormed the Bastille during the French Revolution.