Church of the Holy Family
A Confluence Attraction

Contact
Holy Family Parish
(618) 337-4548
Contact the Parish for information about access and hours.

Location
116 Church Street
Cahokia IL 62206

Directions
(By car) From I-55/70 in Illinois (reached from downtown St. Louis via the Poplar Street Bridge), exit Illinois Route 3 South and proceed three miles to Illinois Route 157. The Church is located near this intersection.
(By bike) From the Cargill Road Terminus of the Metro-East Levee Trail, proceed East on Cargill Road to the intersection with West 1st Street. Proceed East on West 1st Street past the intersection with Route 3 to the Church.

History and Features
The Mission of the Holy Family was established in 1699 as an outpost of the Seminary of Foreign Missions at Quebec. The current building, the third structure on the site, dates from 1799 and is typical of French colonial post-on-sill log construction, with a cypress clapboard roof, 4’ x 4’ oak beams for the roof timbers, and wooden pegs, rather than nails, used throughout.

The site, prone to flooding, caused the Church’s gradual deterioration through the years, and in 1913 the building was covered with clapboard to prevent further damage. Restoration of the Church took place from 1949 to 1951, following the 250th anniversary celebration of the founding of Cahokia.

Holy Family Church was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970 and is still used for special services by Holy Family Parish.

The Church is located within easy walk of two other French colonial sites in Cahokia, the Cahokia Courthouse and the Jarrot Mansion (both have entries on this website).

For more information about nearby French colonial sites, see
http://www.ste-genevieve.com
http://www.greatriverroad.com/frchome.htm
http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com

For more information about other nearby attractions, see
http://www.thetourismbureau.org