SUTTER'S FORT

Visit Sutter's Fort State Historic Park to get an authentic look at how the 49ers were greeted after their long and arduous journeys!

Johann Augustus Sutter (known to us as "John Sutter") was a German/Swiss immigrant who played a huge role in the settlement of Northern California!

His contributions are celebrated at the restored and renovated Sutter's Fort, originally built by Sutter in the early 1840s, long before the California Gold Rush.

John Sutter first came to the United States in 1834, when he was 31 years old, to try to rebuild his fortunes. In the process, he left behind his wife, Anna, and their 5 children, planning to send for them when he could.

Don't you wonder how families like that supported themselves while their men were gone? I do! Sutter didn't send for Anna and the children until 1850!

It wasn't until mid-August, 1839 that Sutter made his way to the area now known as Sacramento. He traveled up the Sacramento and American Rivers to the spot where 28th & C Streets meet today - only about 1 mile from where he built what he called New Helvetia, but what we know as Sutter's Fort.

In the beginning years of Sutter's Fort, Sutter made quite a lucrative series of businesses for himself - he was engaged in farming, fur trading, distilling whiskey and brandy, tanning, brewing beer, and many other activities that brought in money and provisions for him and his Samoan & Indian workers, and made life a little more comfortable.

SUTTER'S FORT TODAY

But Sutter's major contribution to the settlement of NorCal - apart from the obvious one that he owned the sawmill where James Marshall first discovered gold - was the sanctuary and assistance he offered to settlers who came from all over the world.

He often provided free accommodations and supplies to the new arrivals at his settlement who had been wiped out by the mere process of getting to California. And he was instrumental in recruiting settlers to begin the journey!

Today you can take a self-guided tour of Sutter's Fort to see what life was like for John Sutter and his people.

The fort is renovated to the specifications of the 1848 Kunzul Map, and is fitted out with period furniture, dishes, armory, doctor's surgery, bakery, etc.

There's a self-guided audio tour with stations at each shop and room to explain what you're seeing.

The Bakery

At certain times of the year, you'll also find special events to help you re-live the past:

• Living History Days, when the fort returns to 1846 with costumed docents who "become" historical characters




• Pioneer Demonstration Days, when you can participate in the activities being demonstrated by period-costumed docents




• Summer Interpretive Program, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend

There's also the State Indian Museum right next door to the fort, with its Native American artifacts, photographs, and basket collection.

And it's all set in a beautiful park setting - right in the middle of modern-day Sacramento!

Sutter's Fort is a perfect second stop while you're in Sacramento as part of your California Gold Rush explorations - it's only about 2 1/2 miles from Old Sac!

Sutter's Fort is only one of the ways that you can step back in time to the California Gold Rush days:

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