Sutter's Fort

Sutter's Fort was a settlement built in the 1800s in what is now California. It was started in 1839 by a man named John Sutter as part of his dream to create a new community called New Helvetia, or New Switzerland. The fort became the first place not owned by Native American people in California's Central Valley. Sadly, the people who worked there were treated very badly.

The fort is well known because of its connection to the Donner Party, a group of travelers who had trouble reaching California, and because it was near where gold was later found, starting the California gold rush. The city of Sacramento grew up around the fort. Today, the old buildings made from mud and straw have been brought back to how they looked long ago. Sutter's Fort is cared for by California's park system and was named a special National Historic Landmark in 1961.

History

John Sutter was given a large piece of land in California’s Central Valley by the Mexican governor. Between 1841 and 1843, he built the main building of Sutter’s Fort, a two-story adobe structure. This building is the only original part still standing at today’s Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park. On January 28, 1848, James Marshall met with Sutter there to show him gold found just four days earlier at Sutter’s Mill along the American River. Sutter built the fort with thick walls, and pioneers began settling nearby around 1841. After the California Gold Rush began, the fort was mostly deserted by the 1850s and left to fall apart.

Sutter and his group arrived at the American River in August 1839. They included a few Europeans and a Native American boy who likely helped as a translator. Some of the first workers at the colony were Native Hawaiians, called Kanakas, brought in under a work agreement. Once the camp was set up, Sutter used local Miwok, Nisenan, and Native Californians to build the first adobe building.

After the fort was built, Sutter created an agricultural colony where European settlers oversaw Native Californian and Native Hawaiian workers. Many of these workers were badly mistreated and lived under harsh conditions.

When gold was found at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma on January 24, 1848, the fort was left empty.

In 1891, the Native Sons of the Golden West bought Sutter’s Fort to save it from being torn down. They repaired it and gave it to the State of California. In 1947, it became Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, managed by California State Parks.

Geography and hydrology

Sutter's Fort was built on flat ground, about 20 feet above sea level. The land slopes down toward the American River to the north and the Sacramento River to the west. It slopes upward to the south and east. All rainwater runs off toward the Sacramento River. Normally, underground water flows toward the Sacramento Delta, but after heavy rain, the Sacramento River can swell, and the flow can change direction.

Sutter's Landing

Sutter's Landing is where Captain John A. Sutter arrived in August 1839 at the American River after traveling up the Sacramento River from Yerba Buena. After landing, Sutter set up a small camp before building Sutter's Fort. This spot is now California Historical Landmark #591, listed on May 22, 1957.

Coloma Road

The old Coloma Road opened in 1847, connecting Sutter's Fort to the town of Coloma. Marshall used this road to tell Captain John A. Sutter about his gold discovery. During the gold rush of 1849, thousands of miners traveled this road to search for gold. Coloma Road at Sutter's Fort is California Historical Landmark No. 745. There are two other Coloma Road landmarks: Coloma Road, Rescue, California Historical Landmark No. 748, in Coloma, and California Historical Landmark No. 747 at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. The first stage line in California, run by the California Stage Company, used this road starting in 1849, founded by James E. Birch.