Jenner in Sonoma County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Fort Ross
Erected 1928 by Historic Landmarks Committee, Native Sons of the Golden West.
Marker series. This marker is included in the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West marker series.
Location. 38° 30.871′ N, 123° 14.581′ W. Marker is in Jenner, California, in Sonoma County. Marker can be reached from Fort Ross Road ¼ mile west of Coast Highway (California Route 1), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Fort Ross is on Fort Ross Road, about 11.5 miles north of Jenner, California at the mouth of the Russian River. Going north, turn left onto Fort Ross Road and in 1/4 mile turn left again into the parking lot. Marker is in this post office area: Jenner CA 95450, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are

By Roger Sturtevant, February 10, 1934
2. View from South-West - Fort Ross, Russian Chapel, Fort Ross, Sonoma County, CA
The marker is visible here, just to the right of the chapel entrance, at what was probably its original location.
The chapel was nearly destroyed in the earthquake of April 1906, leaving only the roof and associated structures intact. The chapel was restored, 1915-1917, with significant additional alterations undertaken during repairs, 1955-57. Fire destroyed the chapel on October 5, 1970, with a complete reconstruction of the chapel completed on the same site in 1973. (Photo courtesy of the Historic American Building Survey)
The chapel was nearly destroyed in the earthquake of April 1906, leaving only the roof and associated structures intact. The chapel was restored, 1915-1917, with significant additional alterations undertaken during repairs, 1955-57. Fire destroyed the chapel on October 5, 1970, with a complete reconstruction of the chapel completed on the same site in 1973. (Photo courtesy of the Historic American Building Survey)
More about this marker. This marker is inside the stockade at Fort Ross State Historical Park. It is mounted on the inside wall of the fort, near the entrance to the chapel and, more-or-less, behind the framework that holds the chapel bell.
Also see . . .
1. Fort Ross State Historic Park. Fort Ross was a thriving Russian-American Company settlement from 1812 to 1841. This commercial company chartered by Russia's tsarist government controlled all Russian exploration, trade and settlement in the North Pacific, and established permanent settlements in Alaska and California. Fort Ross was the southernmost settlement in the Russian colonization of the North American continent, and was established as an agricultural base to supply Alaska. It was the site of California's
first windmills and shipbuilding, and Russian scientists were among the first to record California’s cultural and natural history. Fort Ross was a successfully functioning multi-cultural settlement for some thirty years. Settlers included Russians, Native Alaskans and Californians, and Creoles (individuals of mixed Russian and native ancestry.) (Submitted on September 26, 2013, by James King of San Miguel, California.)
2. Fort Ross Conservancy. Fort Ross, one of the main tourist attractions between Bodega Bay and Fort Bragg, is a California State Historic Park showcasing a historic Russian-era fort compound that has been designated National Historic Landmark status. (Submitted on September 26, 2013, by James King of San Miguel, California.)
3. The History of Fort Ross. (Submitted on September 26, 2013, by James King of San Miguel, California.)
4. Fort Ross State Historic Park. Fort Ross State Historic Park, a California State Park located on the coast of Sonoma County, was established as one of the first State Parks in 1908. The name, derived from the word for Russia (Rossiia), was originally established by the Russian American Company, a commercial hunting and trading company chartered by the tsarist government, with shares held by the members of the Tsar’s family, court nobility and high officials. This history is very unique along the California Coast. To learn more about this amazing place please visit our history section. (Submitted on September 26, 2013, by James King of San Miguel, California.)
5. Renova Fort Ross Foundation. The Renova Fort Ross Foundation is a public charitable foundation dedicated to Fort Ross State Historic Park. Our mission is to promote the preservation and to raise awareness of Fort Ross throughout the United States and Russia. (Submitted on September 27, 2013, by James King of San Miguel, California.)
Categories. • Forts, Castles • Settlements & Settlers •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on September 26, 2013, by James King of San Miguel, California. This page has been viewed 415 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on March 8, 2016, by James King of San Miguel, California. Photos: 1. submitted on September 26, 2013, by James King of San Miguel, California. 2. submitted on September 26, 2013. 3. submitted on September 26, 2013, by James King of San Miguel, California. 4. submitted on February 22, 2009, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California. 5, 6. submitted on March 8, 2016, by James King of San Miguel, California. 7. submitted on April 30, 2016, by James King of San Miguel, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.