Sutter's Fort

Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort, 1840s illustration
Sutter's Fort is located in Sacramento, California
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort is located in California
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort is located in the United States
Sutter's Fort
Location2701 L Street
Sacramento, California
Coordinates38°34′20.9″N 121°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[1]
Sutter's Fort interior
Sutter's Fort lone star flag, c. 1846[2]

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]

In modern times, the adobe structure has been restored to its original condition (38°34′20″N 121°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 

  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. ^ "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. ^ "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.