Waimea in Kauai County, Hawaii — Hawaiian Island Archipelago (Pacific Ocean)

Russian Fort Elizabeth

1815 - 1864

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, May 24, 2013

1. Russian Fort Elizabeth Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Fort History Fort Elizabeth was one of three Russian Forts partially built between 1815 and 1817 on the island of Kauai. Fort Alexander and Fort Barclay were built near the mouths of the Hanalei River on the north shore of Kauai while Fort Elizabeth was built about 35 miles away, on the opposite side of the island, at the mouth of the Waimea River. These sites were selected for their safe anchorage in the bays and the commanding viewpoints from their location on the bluffs along the river mouths.

These forts were built under the direction of Georg Anton Schaeffer, an agent with the Russian-American Company, and Fort Elizabeth was named for the Czarina of Russia at the time of fort construction. The Russians made an alliance with Kauai King Kaumualii to build the forts and to secure a provisioning station in Hawaii for the Russian-American ships trading between the American Northwest and Asia across the Pacific Ocean. The Russians were forced to leave Kauai and abandon the forts in 1817. Hawaiian troops completed & occupied Fort Elizabeth from 1817 until 1864.

The fort was dismantled in 1864 by

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order of the Hawaiian government and the fort has fallen into disrepair since that time. The remnants of Russian Fort Elizabeth consist of the fort wall made of basalt boulders staked over an earthen embankment and the foundations of the buildings that once existed inside the fort wall.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1815.

Location. 21° 57.125′ N, 159° 39.91′ W. Marker is in Waimea, Hawaii, in Kauai County. Marker is at the intersection of Hawaii Route 50 and Waimea River, on the left when traveling west on State Route 50. Marker is located in Fort Elizabeth State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waimea HI 96796, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Captain Cook Monument (approx. ¼ mile away); Menehune Ditch (approx. 1.3 miles away); Spouting Horn Park (approx. 11.9 miles away); Prince Kūhiō Birthplace & Park (approx. 13.2 miles away); Yamamoto Store & Kōloa Hotel (approx. 13.2 miles away); Koloa, Birthplace of the Hawaiian Sugar Industry (approx. 13.2 miles away); Kōloa Missionary Church (approx. 13.2 miles away); Kōloa Jodo Mission (approx. 13.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waimea.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, May 24, 2013

2. Russian Fort Elizabeth Marker

Russian Fort Elizabeth Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, May 24, 2013

3. Russian Fort Elizabeth Markers

The Fort History is the second marker from the left. The two markers on the right describe a fort tour and the town of Waimea.

Russian Fort Elizabeth image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, May 24, 2013

4. Russian Fort Elizabeth

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2013, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 634 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 8, 2013, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.