Sutter's Fort is a recreation of the fort built by John Sutter in 1840. A German born Swiss, Sutter secured a Mexican land grant of over 47,000 acres by becoming a Mexican citizen. He sought to establish a self sufficient colony which he called New Helvetica (New Switzerland).
He had a successful farming operation, growing barley, peas, beans and cotton in addition to wheat. He raised cattle, sheep, horses and mules.
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| Carpentry shop |
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| Grain mill |
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| Blanket Factory |
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| Distillery |
Of course, who could imagine a frontier outpost without whiskey?
Docents in period costume explain and demonstrate life at the fort. Many displays have audio explanations that turn on when the visitor approaches.
Sutter's colony did not last long. John Marshall's discovery of gold in 1848 at the lumber mill he ran for Sutter was the beginning of the end. Sutter could not hold his land against the hordes of gold seekers that began coming to California in 1849 and the American courts did not recognize his Mexican land grants.
By 1860 all that remained of Sutter's Fort was the central building. In 1890 the site was purchased by the Native Sons of the Golden West and reconstruction was started a year later based on a map that had been published in Germany in 1847.
Today the Fort is a living history museum, a place where school children can come and learn about life in 19th century California and get some hands on experience in some of the skill that were needed then.
This is one view of our amazing world, see other views at Our World, Tuesday, hosted for us by Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia and Sandy.
18 comments:
A wonderful post, superb captures and fascinating history, Martha. I would love to visit there. Hope your week is off to a good start!
Sylvia
What a neat place to visit!
Great post Martha!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Oh, I didn't know Sutter was not able to keep all his land! How fascinating!
Used to pass the Fort as a kid when visiting my Grandparents in Sacto but no adults wanted to stop. Thanks for the tour of this interesting place. They tried.
I wonder how heartbreaking it was to have lost all this during the gold rush. The educational legacy is certainly of value, however, in the New Switzerland that lost its chance to flourish.
That must have been heartbreaking to have it all go under so quickly.
How interesting! I love living history museums. How I hate it that whenever the budget needs to be cut that education and state parks are some of the first to feel the cuts!
Ah, the days without a Walmart nearby. I wonder how many small communities could survive today without running water, electricity and no handy shops to buy at? I could, but thee would not be that many others who can still grow their own food and make their own blankets and cookware.
Interesting post.
What an intriguing place!
Wonderful images and a lovely post to read...
Like stepping back in history! Just wanted to visit to wish you and Jules a very Happy Thanksgiving, Martha. I've been off-line awhile playing with visiting Grands.
Magnificent photos, now seems an interesting museum. Good job. Greetings.
I love this kind of stuff. Great post. I'm glad somebody recognized its historical value and preserved it for future generations to look at.
I love learning about the good old days, and I am ever so thankful I don't live then!
I like old stuff thike this. But I feel sad that it is not in use anymore. It is great tools.
A great place to visit. New Helvetica? Reminds me of a font of the same name :D
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