Fort Ross, California
The chapel at Fort Ross.
Established:	1812
Location:	California Coast, 12 miles north of the Russian River estuary.
Creator and First Manager:	Ivan Kuskov
Sold:	John Sutter, 1841

Fort Ross is a former Russian fur trading outpost in what is now Sonoma County, California in the United States. It was established by Ivan Kuskov of the Russian-American Company in 1812 as krepost' rus'.^[1] The settlement was sold to John Sutter (an American entrepreneur) in 1841, owing to the depletion of the local population of fur-bearing marine mammals, as well as the decreased strategic importance of a supply base for Russia's Alaskan colonies following the Convention of February 28, 1825 with the British. It was the southernmost outpost of a Russian presence in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The Fort with the surrounding settlement was home to Russians, Aleut hunters in their employment, and native Kashaya (Kashia) Pomo. This unique site has recently been the subject of intensive archaeological investigation. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2032x1354, 602 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Fort Ross, California Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The Russian River downstream of Duncans Mills The Russian River rises in the coastal mountain ranges of Mendocino County, north of Ukiah in Northern California. ... John Sutter Johann Augustus Sutter (February 23, 1803–June 18, 1880) was a Californian famous for his association with the California Gold Rush (in that gold was discovered by James W. Marshall in Sutters Mill) and for establishing Sutters Fort in an area that would later become the... An Alberta fur trader in the 1890s. ... Sonoma County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, north of Marin County and the San Francisco Bay Area. ... The Russian-American Company was a semi-official colonial trading company started by Grigory Shelikhov and Nikolai Rezanov and chartered by tsar Paul I in 1799. ... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... John Sutter Johann Augustus Sutter (February 23, 1803–June 18, 1880) was a Californian famous for his association with the California Gold Rush (in that gold was discovered by James W. Marshall in Sutters Mill) and for establishing Sutters Fort in an area that would later become the... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... A Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), a member of Order Cetacea A Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), a member of infrafamily Pinnipedia A West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus), a member of Order Sirenia A marine mammal is a mammal that is primarily ocean-dwelling or depends on the ocean for its food. ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway 1825 (MDCCCXXV) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Pacific Northwest from space This page is about the region that includes parts of Canada and the US. For the US only region, see Northwestern United States The Pacific Northwest (abbreviated PNW, or PacNW) or Cascadia is a region in the northwest of North America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... The Aleuts (self-denomination: Unangax, Unangan or Unanga) are the indigenous people of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, U.S.A. and Chukotka, Russia. ... Kashaya (also Southwestern Pomo, Kashia) is a severely endangered Pomoan language spoken on the Northern California coast in Sonoma County, California by one of the several Pomo peoples. ... The Pomo drink water from the river are a Native American people of Northern California. ... Archaeology, archeology, or archology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech/discourse) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ... USS Constitution. ...

The only original structure remaining on the site is Rotchev House, the historical manager's residence. The Fort Ross Chapel was knocked down in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake but much of the original structural woodwork remained and it was re-erected in 1916. It was destroyed by fire in October of 1970, while a few months later the roof of Rotchev House was damaged by arson. The current chapel was built during the intensive restoration activity that followed. The Russian cemetery on an adjacent ridge has been cleared and the gravesites identified through non-destructive archaeological techniques, primarily soil resistivity. An orchard with several original trees planted by the Russians is located inland on Ft. Ross Road. The exact origin of the toponym "Ross" is unknown but the name is generally considered to be a poetical shortened version of "Rossiya," which is "Russia" in Russian.^{[citation needed]} Arnold Genthes famous photograph of San Francisco following the earthquake, looking towards the fire on Sacramento Street The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco and the coast of northern California at 5:12am on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. ...

Colonial administrators

Ivan Alexandrovich Kuskov, a skilful Russian-American Company administrator, served for 22 years in Alaska. He was the founder of Fort Ross and was its colonial administrator from 1812 to 1821. 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The coronation banquet for George IV 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

List of all administrators of the Fort Ross colony:

• Ivan A. Kuskov, 1812—1821
• Karl J von Schmidt, 1821—1824
• Paul I. Shelikhov, 1824—1830
• Peter S. Kostromitinov, 1830—1838
• Alexander G. Rotchev, 1838—1841

Ownership history

Fort Ross was privately owned until 1903 (passing from John Sutter to successive owners and lastly, to George W. Call) when the stockade and about three acres of land were purchased from the Call family by the California Historical Landmarks Commission. Three years later it was turned over to the State of California for preservation and restoration as a state historic monument; since then, the state acquired more of the surrounding land for preservation purposes. California Department of Parks and Recreation as well as many volunteers put extensive efforts into restoration and reconstruction work in the Fort. California Historical Landmarks (CHLs) are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below: approved for designation by the County Board of Supervisors or the City/Town Council in whose...

Other meanings

• Along with its status as a National Historic Landmark, the fort itself and the surrounding area (the immediate coastline and the redwood forest some distance inland) are all included in a California State Park under the name Fort Ross State Historic Park.
• Fort Ross also designates the small rural community that exists between the towns of Cazadero, Jenner, and Gualala. It is characterized by a strong sense of local community, and its center is undoubtedly the tiny Ft. Ross Elementary School. The tremendous natural beauty of this area, and its colorful inhabitants make it a source of local legend^{[citation needed]}.

USS Constitution. ... State park is a term used in the United States and in Mexico for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, recreation, or other reason, and under the administration of the government of a U.S. state or one of the states of Mexico. ... Fort Ross State Historic Park is a protected historic site in the U.S. state of California. ... Cazadero is a town in Sonoma County, California with a population of 2,347. ... Jenner is a small town with a population of about 170 in Sonoma County, California, U.S. It is located on the Pacific coast near the mouth of the Russian River. ... Gualala is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County in the U.S. state of California. ...

Timeline

• 1784 — Russians settled in Kodiak Island, now Alaska.
• 1799 — Russians established a post in Sitka, now Alaska.
• 1806 — Ivan Kuskov looked for places to expand the Russian empire.
• 1806–1811 — Ivan Kuskov explored what is now called the California Coast.
• 1812 — Ivan Kuskov brought 25 Russians and 80 native Alaskans to the California Coast. Fort Ross was established.
• 1821 — Ivan Kuskov leaves Fort Ross and is replaced by Karl Schmidt.
• 1824 — Karl Schmidt leaves Fort Ross and is replaced by Paul Shelikhov.
• 1830 — Paul Shelikhov leaves Fort Ross and is replaced by Peter Kostromitinov.
• 1838 — Peter Kostromitinov leaves Fort Ross and is replaced by Alexander Rotchev.
• 1841 — Alexander Rotchev sells Fort Ross to John Sutter.
• 1906 — The San Francisco 'quake nearly destroys Fort Ross.
• 1916 — Fort Ross is redone.
• 1970 — A fire at Fort Ross again nearly destroys the former settlement.
• 1971 — Fort Ross is once again redone.

1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Kodiak Island is a large island on the south coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, separated from the Alaska mainland by the Shelikof Strait. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... 1799 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: First City of Alaska Coordinates: Borough City and Borough of Sitka Founded 1799 Incorporated December 2, 1971 Mayor Marko Dapcevich Area    - City 12,461. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The coronation banquet for George IV 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 (MDCCCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... | Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... John Sutter Johann Augustus Sutter (February 23, 1803–June 18, 1880) was a Californian famous for his association with the California Gold Rush (in that gold was discovered by James W. Marshall in Sutters Mill) and for establishing Sutters Fort in an area that would later become the... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

Buildings

• Kuskov Kouse — The Kuskov House was the house where Ivan Kuskov and the other managers up to Alexander Rotchev slept. Located in the mid-eastern area of the fort.
• Rotchev House — This house was where Alexander Rotchev, the last manager of Ross slept. It remains the only building left that is the original building, built in 1838. Located in the northwest area of the fort.
• Officials Quaters — This building was the quarters of the officials. Located in the mid-western area of the fort, near the gate.
• Blockhouses — There were two blockhouses, one in the Northeast area, and one in the Southwest.
• Chapel — This was where the members of Fort Ross would get married. Located on the southeast area of the fort.

Kuskov House Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2708x1833, 1880 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...	Rotchev House Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2517x1548, 1285 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...	Chapel Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2032x1354, 602 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Fort Ross, California Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used...	Officials' Quarters Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2304, 1910 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
NW Blockhouse Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (753x1077, 278 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...	SE Blockhouse Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2304, 1820 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...	Well Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1614x1571, 882 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

Notes

1. ^ Nordlander, p. 10

References

• Nordlander, David J. (1994). For God & Tsar: A Brief History of Russian America 1741–1867. Alaska Natural History Association, Anchorage, AK. ISBN 0-930931-15-7.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fort Ross

• State Parks Fort Ross Website
• Fort Ross Interpretive Association Home Page
• History of Fort Ross.
• parks.sonoma.net History of Fort Ross
• Fort Ross chronology