CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site in St. Clair County will host “The Language of Liberty,” a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
Community members will read portions of the Declaration aloud, while local historians provide insight into the document’s origins, meaning and lasting influence on American history. The program commemorates the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. The reading presented the ideals of liberty and self-government directly to the people of the newly formed nation.
Visitors will have the opportunity to tour Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site, one of the oldest public buildings in Illinois and an important landmark of early American government in the Northwest Territory.
The program is part of the Illinois America 250 initiative which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States through educational programs, historical interpretation and community events throughout the state. The event is hosted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, St. Clair County Historical Society, the Lewis and Clark Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Belleville Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site is located at 107 Elm St. in Cahokia Heights. For additional information, contact the St. Clair County Historical Society at 618-234-0600.
About IDNR
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes. Today, IDNR’s work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov and follow us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
