Sutter's Fort

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Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort from Gleason's Pictorial Drawing Room Companion.jpg
Sutter's Fort, 1840s illustration
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Location2701 L Street
Sacramento, California
Coordinates 38°34′20.9″N121°28′16.4″W / 38.572472°N 121.471222°W / 38.572472; -121.471222
NRHP reference No. 66000221)
CHISL No.745
CHISL No.591
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966
Sutter's Fort flag, c. 1839-1848 Sutters fort flag 1840.jpg
Sutter's Fort flag, c. 1839–1848
Sutter's Fort interior Sutter's Fort interior (1).JPG
Sutter's Fort interior
Sutter's Fort lone star flag, c. 1846 Sutter fort flag 1846.jpg
Sutter's Fort lone star flag, c. 1846

Sutter's Fort was a 19th-century agricultural and trade colony in the Mexican Alta California province. [3] [4] Established in 1839, the site of the fort was originally part of a utopian colonial project called New Helvetia (New Switzerland) by its builder John Sutter, though construction of the fort proper would not begin until 1841. The fort was the first non-Indigenous community in the California Central Valley, [5] and saw grave mistreatment of Indigenous laborers in plantation or feudal style conditions. The fort is famous for its association with the Donner Party, the California Gold Rush, and the formation of the city of Sacramento, surrounding the fort. It is notable for its proximity to the end of the California and Siskiyou Trails, which it served as a waystation. [6]

Contents

In modern times, the adobe structure has been restored to its original condition ( 38°34′20″N121°28′16″W / 38.5723°N 121.4712°W / 38.5723; -121.4712 ) and is now administered by California Department of Parks and Recreation. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. [7] :42

History

Painting of Sutter's Fort ruins, c. 1900 Sutter's Fort ruins painting by Calthea Vivian.jpg
Painting of Sutter's Fort ruins, c. 1900

To build his colony, John Sutter secured a 50,000 acre land grant in the Central Valley from the Mexican governor. [8] The main building of the fort is a two-story adobe structure built between 1841 and 1843 using Indigenous forced labor. This building is the only original surviving structure at the reconstructed Sutter's Fort State Historic Park. It was in here on January 28, 1848, that James Marshall met privately with John Sutter in order to show him the gold that Marshall had found during the construction of Sutter's sawmill along the American River only four days earlier. Sutter built the original fort with walls 2.5 feet (0.76 m) thick and 15 to 18 feet (5.5 m) high. [6] Pioneers took residence at Sutter's Fort around 1841. Following word of the California gold rush, the fort was largely deserted by the 1850s and fell into disrepair.

Construction

The party led by John Sutter landed on the bank of the American River in August 1839. The group included three Europeans and a Native American boy, probably to serve as interpreter. Some of the first people brought to the colony were Native Hawaiian workers, called Kanakas. Sutter had entered a contract with the governor of Hawaii to import and use the labor of these eight men and two women for three years. Once the first camp was set up, Sutter used local Miwok, Nisenan, and "missionized" Native Californians to build the first building, a three-room adobe. [8]

Agricultural colony

Once the fort was built, Sutter established an agricultural colony with labor structures similar to Southern plantations and European feudalism. [8] The colony relied on ranching and growing wheat crops. European colonists oversaw Native Californian and Native Hawaiian workers, who were often gravely mistreated. Sutter employed a caste system to ensure that the minority European settlers maintained control over the colony. Although some of the laborers worked voluntarily, many were subjected to brutal conditions that resembled enslavement or serfdom. [9]

Decline

After gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill (also owned by John Sutter) in Coloma on January 24, 1848, the fort was abandoned. [3] [6]

Preservation

John Sutter's desk, photographed at Sutter's Fort State Historic Park SuttersDesk.jpg
John Sutter's desk, photographed at Sutter's Fort State Historic Park

In 1891, the Native Sons of the Golden West, who sought to safeguard many of the landmarks of California's pioneer days, purchased and rehabilitated Sutter's Fort when the City of Sacramento sought to demolish it. Repair efforts were completed in 1893 and the fort was given by the Native Sons of the Golden West to the State of California. In 1947, the fort was transferred to the authority of California State Parks as Sutter's Fort State Historic Park.

Making nails at Sutter's Fort, Sacramento Making nails at Sutter's Fort, Sacramento.jpg
Making nails at Sutter's Fort, Sacramento

Most of the original neighborhood structures were initially built in the late 1930s as residences, many of which have been converted to commercial uses such as private medical practices. The history of the neighborhood is largely residential.

Geography and hydrology

John Sutter plaque at Sutter's Fort ISH WC SuttersFort3.jpg
John Sutter plaque at Sutter's Fort

Sutter's Fort is located on level ground at an elevation of approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) above mean sea datum. [10] The slope elevation decreases northward toward the American River and westward toward the Sacramento River. Slope elevation gradually increases to the south and east, away from the rivers. All surface drainage flows toward the Sacramento River. Groundwater in the vicinity flows south-southwest toward the Sacramento Delta. However, after peak rainfall, the Sacramento River swells and the groundwater flow can actually reverse away from the river. [11]

Sutter's Landing

Sutter's Landing is the spot the Captain John A. Sutter landed in August 1839 at the American River after coming up the Sacramento River from Yerba Buena at 38°34′54″N121°27′58″W / 38.5816°N 121.4660°W / 38.5816; -121.4660 . After landing, Sutter built a base camp, then Sutter's Fort. The site of the landing is California Historical Landmark #591 that was listed on May 22, 1957. [12]

Coloma Road

The old Coloma Road opened in 1847, it ran from Sutter's Fort to the city of Coloma. Marshall traveled the road to tell of his gold find to Captain John A. Sutter. During the 49ers gold rush thousands of miners traveled the road heading out to look for gold and claims. Coloma Road at Sutter's Fort is a California Historical Landmark No. 745. [13] There are two other Coloma Road California Historical Landmarks: Coloma Road, Rescue California Historical Landmark, No. 748, in Coloma and California Historical Landmark No. 747 at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. [14] [15] [16] California's first stage line, California Stage Company, traveled the road starting in 1849, the line was founded by James E. Birch. [17]

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Sutter</span> Swiss pioneer of California

John Augustus Sutter, born Johann August Sutter and known in Spanish as Don Juan Sutter, was a Swiss immigrant who became a Mexican and later an American citizen, known for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area that would eventually become Sacramento, California, the state's capital. His employee James W. Marshall discovered gold, leading to the founding of the mill-making team at Sutter's Mill. Sutter, however, saw his own business ventures fail during the California Gold Rush, though those of his elder son, John Augustus Sutter Jr., were more successful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sutter's Mill</span> Location of gold discovery that started the California Gold Rush in 1848

Sutter's Mill was a water-powered sawmill on the bank of the South Fork American River in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California. It was named after its owner John Sutter. A worker constructing the mill, James W. Marshall, found gold there in 1848. This discovery set off the California gold rush (1848–1855), a major event in the history of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sutter County, California</span> County in California, United States

Sutter County is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 99,633. The county seat is Yuba City. Sutter County is included in the Yuba City, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Sacramento-Roseville, CA Combined Statistical Area. The county is located along the Sacramento River in the Sacramento Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James W. Marshall</span> American pioneer who discovered gold in California in 1848

James Wilson Marshall was an American carpenter and sawmill operator, who on January 24, 1848, reported the finding of gold at Coloma, California, a small settlement on the American River about 36 miles northeast of Sacramento. His discovery was the impetus for the California Gold Rush. The mill property was owned by Johann (John) Sutter who employed Marshall to build his mill. The wave of gold seekers turned everyone's attention away from the mill which eventually fell into disrepair and was never used as intended. Neither Marshall nor Sutter ever profited from the gold find.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Native Sons of the Golden West</span> Fraternal service organization in California, US

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Coloma is a census-designated place in El Dorado County, California, US. It is approximately 36 miles (58 km) northeast of Sacramento, California. Coloma is most noted for being the site where James W. Marshall found gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills, at Sutter's Mill on January 24, 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush. Coloma's population is 529.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park</span> State park in California

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is a state park of California, United States, marking the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in 1848, sparking the California Gold Rush. The park grounds include much of the historic town of Coloma, California, which is now considered a ghost town as well as a National Historic Landmark District. The park contains the California Historical Landmarks: a monument to commemorate James Marshall (#143), the actual spot where he first discovered gold in 1848 (#530). Established in 1942, and Coloma Road (#748),. The park now comprises 576 acres (233 ha) in El Dorado County.

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The history of Sacramento, California, began with its founding by Samuel Brannan and John Augustus Sutter, Jr. in 1848 around an embarcadero that his father, John Sutter, Sr. constructed at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers a few years prior.

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Rancho Petaluma Adobe is a historic ranch house in Sonoma County, California. It was built from adobe bricks in 1836 by order of Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. It was the largest privately owned adobe structure built in California and is the largest example of the Monterey Colonial style of architecture in the United States. A section of the former ranch has been preserved by the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park and it is both a California Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. The Rancho Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park is located on Adobe Road on the east side of the present-day town of Petaluma, California.

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Coloma Road in Rescue, California is a historical road in El Dorado County, California. A Historical Landmark was built at 4222 Green Valley Road in Rescue, California at the Rescue Junction General Store. The old Coloma Road opened in 1847, it ran from Sutter's Fort to the city of Coloma. James W. Marshall traveled the road to tell of his gold find to Captain John A. Sutter. During the 49ers miners gold rush thousands of miners traveled the road heading out to look for gold and claims. California's first stage line, California Stage Company, traveled the road starting in 1849, the line was founded by James E. Birch.

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References

  1. "A 13-Star American Flag associated with pre-statehood California dated, "1840"". Freeman Auction.
  2. Ferrigan III, James J. (June 11, 1999). "Sutter's Republic (U.S.)". crwflags.com.
  3. 1 2 "California National Historic Trail". National Park Service .
  4. "John Sutter, Sutters Fort". linecamp.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011.
  5. "Sutter's Fort State Historic Park". California Department of Parks and Recreation . Archived from the original on March 13, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 "History of the Fort". California Department of Parks and Recreation . Archived from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  7. "Sutter's Fort SHP: Interpretation Master Plan DRAFT" (PDF). Reinterpreting Sutter's Fort. California Department of Parks and Recreation. 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Harris, Malcolm (February 14, 2023). Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World. Little, Brown and Company. p. 14-15. ISBN   978-0316592031.
  9. Hurtado, Albert (Spring 1990). "California Indians and the Workaday West: Labor, Assimilation, and Survival". California History. 69 (1): 5. doi:10.2307/25177303. JSTOR   25177303.
  10. U.S. Geological Survey, Sacramento East Quadrangle, 1967, photorevised 1980
  11. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, 2617 K Street, Sacramento, California, Earth Metrics Inc. Report # 10185, October 3, 1989
  12. "Sutter's Landing #591". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  13. "Coloma Road -Sutter's Fort #745". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  14. "Coloma Road #748". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  15. "Coloma Road - Coloma (No. 748 California Historical Landmark) | Sierra Nevada Geotourism". sierranevadageotourism.org.
  16. "CHL # 748 Coloma Road-Coloma El Dorado". www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com.
  17. Hubert Howe Bancroft, History of California Volume 24, The History Company, 1890. pp. 151–152 and notes 46, 47, 48]