Fort Ross, A Russian American Company Settlement On The California Coast (1812-1841)

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Colonial Forts in Comparative, Global, and Contemporary Perspective", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In 1812 the Russian American Company (RAC), a fur hunting monopoly headquartered at New Archangel (Sitka) Alaska, commenced construction of a fortified settlement on the coast of northern California. Although the primary purpose was to facilitate the hunting of fur bearing sea mammals, it was also meant to be a source of food to support the north Pacific outposts of the RAC. The settlement had a diverse demographic makeup composed of Alaska Natives, ethnic Russians, mixed heritage people (creoles) and local California natives. Fort Ross developed a variety of light industry to support its own needs as well as those of the north Pacific colonies. The settlement eventually was sold in 1841. Fort Ross today is a California State Historic Park. It has been embraced by Russians and the Native Alaskans as a cultural tie to a romantic period in their history when Russia occupied a piece of California.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Colonial Forts in Comparative, Global, and Contemporary Perspective   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2023

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow