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Anniversary of Fort Ross foundation
August 30 (September 11), 1812 a native of Totma, Ivan Alexandrovich Kuskov, founded the Fort Ross on the Pacific coast of California, for fishing and fur trade. It became the most distant point of the settlement of Russian colonists and the southern outpost of the Russian empire in North America.
The so-called "Russian America" in the north-west coast of the American continent was initiated by discoveries of the Second Kamchatka Expedition (1733-1743) of V. I. Bering and A. I. Chirikov. The explorers were followed here by entrepreneurs in search of furs. In 1784, G. I. Shelikhov founded the first permanent settlement on Kodiak Island. Shelikov’s ally, merchant A. A.Baranov, founded New Archangelsk on Sitka Island, which became the capital of the "Russian America", and more than twenty other Russian settlements intended for fishing and trading activities. In 1799, to develop new lands, was established "Russian-American Company," semi-state trade organization.
In early 19th century, merchant Baranov decided to create a fortress and Russian settlement in California. To do this, in 1808, Ivan Kuskov set off for a sea trip to pre-inspect the area, and in early 1809 the expedition stopped in the Gulf Rumyantsev (now, Bodega Bay). Then, during the second campaign in 1811, he explored the neighborhood. He especially liked the plateau, 30 km to the north of the bay, separated from the rest of the country by deep gorges and surrounded by timber and pastures. Not far there was a river, which he called Slavyanka (now Russian River). Although this area was formally under the jurisdiction of the Spanish, Kuskov bought it from the Indians, paying three blankets, three pairs of pants, two axes, three hoes, some threads of beads.
From March to September in the acquired territory there were construction works, a fortress and a village were built, and on August 30 (September 11) 1812 at the Fort Ross was raised the flag of the Russian-American Company - Russian tricolor with the imperial double-headed eagle.
Fort was a traditional for Russian architecture wooden fort, which housed all the necessary buildings. By 1814, under the leadership of the first commandant of the Fort, Kuskov, was built the first in the history of California shipyard, the first windmills, as well as a brickyard and a tannery, blacksmiths, stables, carpentry, plumbing and shoemakers, a dairy, etc. Russian colonists not only lived in peace with Indian tribes, but gave them a basic education: taught them to read, as well as various skills. As a result, educated in Russian schools, many Indians became carpenters, blacksmiths, shipbuilders, physician assistants, researchers of local nature and wildlife. In addition, Russian settlers had vegetable gardens, gardens, they raised livestock, fished in the Rumyantsev Gulf and in the Slavyanka River.
By the end of 1830, the maintenance of the Fort Ross became heavily in the red for the Russian-American Company. In this regard, the Chief Executive of RAC decided to abolish the Russian colony in California. RAC employees and residents of Fort Ross moved to New Archangelsk. After the withdrawal of Russians from their settlements, the land had been resold several times to different owners, but the first buildings of the fort remained. Currently, Fort Ross is a monument and a reserve of California: there have been restored the houses of I. A. Kuskov and A. G. Rotchev, the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, there are held Russian music and folk art festivals, as well as theater performances. The tourist center of contemporary Fort Ross displays a copy of the flag, granted by the tsar Paul I to the Russian-American Company.
Lit.: История Русской Америки (1732-1867): В 3-х тт.: Т. 1. Основание Русской Америки (1732-1799). М., 1997; Лазарев А. В. Русская Америка. М., 2004; Петров В. П. Форт Росс и его культурное наследие. Лос-Анжелес, 1980; Русская Америка в «Записках» К.Т. Хлебникова. Ново-Архангельск. М., 1985.
Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:
Загоскин Л. А. Пешеходная опись части русских владений в Америке. СПб., 1847. Ч. 1;
Загоскин Л. А. Пешеходная опись части русских владений в Америке. СПб., 1848. Ч. 2;