| Fort Ross State Historic Park | |
|---|---|
The reconstructed chapel ofFort Ross | |
| Location | Sonoma County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Jenner, California |
| Coordinates | 38°30′51″N123°14′34″W / 38.51417°N 123.24278°W /38.51417; -123.24278 |
| Area | 3,393 acres (1,373 ha) |
| Established | 1909 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Fort Ross State Historic Park is a historicalstate park inSonoma County,California, including the formerRussianfur trading outpost ofFort Ross plus the adjacent coastline and nativecoast redwood forests extending inland. It is located on the northern California coast about 12 miles north of the town of Jenner and 22 miles north ofBodega Bay. Fort Ross, active from 1812 to 1842, was the southernmost settlement in theRussian colonization of the Americas.[1] The 3,393-acre (1,373 ha) park was established in 1909.[2] The site is aSonoma County Historic Landmark.[3]
Fort Ross was founded by theRussian-American Company in 1812. Most of the Fort's buildings are reproductions. The one original structure remaining from the Russian settlement, the commander's house, is aNational Historic Landmark and on theNational Register of Historic Places. TheCalifornia Department of Parks and Recreation as well as many volunteers put extensive efforts into restoration and reconstruction work in the Fort.
In addition to fishing, hiking, surfing, exploring tide pools, picnicking, whale watching, and bird watching, Fort Ross State Historic Park has become a popular destination forScuba Diving, some of whom visit Fort Ross Reef. The wreckage of the SS Pomona[4] lies just offshore Fort Ross State Park.
The name Ross is a poetic name for 'Russian.' It was selected from lots placed at the base of an image of Christ bestowed on the settlement when it was dedicated on September 11, 1812. The Spanish sometimes called it Presidio Ruso or Presidio de Bodega.[5]
In 2009 the park was under the risk of being closed due to state budget cuts. Russian ambassadorSergey Kislyak petitioned in favor of the park, but GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger promised nothing.[1] On June 22, 2010, amemorandum of understanding between the Renova Group of Companies and the State of California, and between Renova Group and Fort Ross Conservancy (then the Fort Ross Interpretive Association) was signed in San Francisco in the presence ofRussian PresidentDmitry Medvedev "to affirm a partnership to support and promote the preservation of California's Fort Ross State Historic Park, and to raise awareness of its historical and cultural significance."[6][7] The threatened park closures were ultimately avoided by cutting hours and maintenance system-wide.[8]