Fort Ross State Historic Park

California has a rich heritage, with many different backgrounds and cultures. Learning about history can be fun and educational for your whole family with a visit to one of these wonderful sites!

Under Spanish Rule

"Alta California's" period of Spanish rule officially began in 1769. During this era, the geographical lines of California were settled and her harbors surveyed, most of the present cities of California were founded, and our missions were established.

The California Missions stretching along El Camino, or the Royal Highway. If you've had a fourth grader, you may remember them learning about the missions. If you're lucky, you might have even gotten to go on a field trip! Visiting these sites can be a great experience for the whole family.

Go to missions.bgmm.com for a map and brief history of the individual missions, or go to www.californiamissions.com for a virtual tour.

Mission San Francisco de Solano, at Sonoma, was founded on July 4, 1823. General Mariano Vallejo plundered the Sonoma and San Rafael after secularization. For a short day trip, visit the Adobe State Historic Park on Adobe Road, near Casa Grande Boulevard, in Petaluma. This was General Mariano Vallejo's ranch.

General Vallejo's home in Sonoma is also available for tours. It is located off West Spain Street, at Third, in Sonoma.

Visit www.parks.sonoma.net/adobe.html for more information.

Russian Settlers

A group of Russians came to California in March of 1812 to hunt sea otter, to grow wheat and other crops for the Russian settlements in Alaska, and to trade with Spanish California. Wishing to establish a "trading base," they built Fort Ross.

Fort Ross is available for tours. Find it on Coast Highway One in Jenner. The park is open a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset, with the buildings open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Click here for their website.

Pioneer Days

In 1839 a Swiss immigrant named John Sutter received a land grant in the Sacramento Valley from the Mexican government. He used the land to establish Sacramento’s earliest settlement. Most of Sutter's settlement was destroyed during the gold rush, except for his fort.

The restored Sutter's Fort State Historic Park can be found on L Street in Sacramento. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.parks.ca.gov/suttersfort for more info.

Mc Farland Ranch, near Galt, is a living history ranch depicting pioneer life in the mid-1850s. Experience it at 8899 Orr Road in Galt. Visit www.mcfarland.org for more info.

Current Government

Buildings available for tours are listed online at www.assembly.ca.gov/museum.