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In 1812, on a stretch
of the Pacific Ocean eighty miles north of San Francisco,
Russian explorers established Colony Ross, Russia’s deepest
vanguard into North America. Colony Ross was settled to produce
food to support the Russian settlements in Alaska, as well as to
expand the valuable sea otter trade. Although the Russian
American Company stayed for just three decades, their
contributions to early California society were vast.
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In partnership with
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They built
California’s first ships and windmills, introduced glass-paneled
windows, created the first brickyard, catalogued the local flora
and fauna, completed detailed maps and were, by today’s
standards, among California’s earliest entrepreneurs. Fort Ross is an excellent
example of the best of California and what it has to offer the
world: a rich history, diverse cultural legacy, beautiful
nature, and dedicated people. Fort Ross State Historic Park was
established in 1909 as one of California’s first state historic
parks. FR2012 invites you to join us in our bicentennial
commemoration and help preserve this rich and vital legacy for
future generations. We are commemorating the 200 years of
natural, cultural and human history of Fort Ross through a
series of special events featuring the diverse influences of
many people, including the Russians, Kashaya and Coast Miwok
Native people, Alaskan Native people, Spanish, Mexicans, and
Americans. |
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