Just about 2 hours northwest of San Francisco lies a surprising bit of history at the Fort Ross State Historic Park. The park contains a (largely reconstructed) for built and used by Russians from 1812-1841. The parapets on the Fort Chapel with their Russian Orthodox architecture hint at the history behind the Park.
At the parking lot (with several picnic tables) is the visitor center - there is a self-guided museum with displays telling of the Kashaya Pomo native tribes who frequented the area, then the Russians who made the fort an agricultural supply base for the Russian-American Company for their activities in Alaska.
Ask the docent to start the park slide show for you and your family (which is displayed on TV in the presentation room). There is also a small bookstore where several books and items focused on Fort Ross and area history (along with some great children's books). This bookstore has 'the largest collection of Russian History in Northern California'.
Heading out the back of the visitor center, you turn left and follow a short (.3 mile) path to the Fort. Entering at the West Sally Port Gate, you will see the six structures still standing inside the Fort (several of the original buildings were destroyed by the Earthquake in April 1906 and other due to the weather and human restoration over the years. The Rotchev house is the only surviving structure which contains construction techniques dating back to the Russian era.
For families with children, several of these buildings provide interest -- stop inside one (or both) of the guard towers (one is 7-sided and the other 8-sided) and see the canon positioned, ready for defense. I favor the tower on the south-west corner -- climb upstairs for the great views of the coast (beautiful Sandy Cove lies at your left -in photo above).
The Official's Quarters and the 2-story Kuskov House have re-created displays showing artifacts and provide a shap-shot of what it likely looked like almost 200 years ago in the Fort. Particularly cool is the munitions room at the bottom left side of the stairs in the Kuskov House with a wall full of muskets. Upstairs in the store room be sure to look for the many supplies including large bars of soap.
There is also the Fort Chapel. It is a real treat for children (or their parents) to ring the bell outside the chapel -- but bang the clapper with care, it is _really_ loud!
Your Visit: Fort Ross State Historic Park is 12 miles north of the town of Jenner (Sonoma County) on Highway One. The Park is open year round, 10:30AM-4:00PM - entry fee is currently $8.00 per car (includes parking & admission to all in that vehicle).
Park address: 19005 Coast Highway One Jenner, CA 95450 (click here for Google Map). Directions to Fort Ross SHP.
Park telephone 707-847-3286
Park events: A great time to visit is the last Saturday in July, Fort Ross Cultural Heritage Day .
Also see the Fort Ross SHP Calendar of Events
You can find additional information about Fort Ross SHP at the following websites:
