Near Jenner in Sonoma County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Russian Cemetery

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 19, 2015

1. The Russian Cemetery Marker

Caption: Artifacts, such as beads, buttons, cloth fragments, crosses and religious medals found in the project will help researches better understand Settlement Ross.

Inscription. Across the gulch to the east, a large Russian Orthodox cross marks the site of the settlement's cemetery. In 1990 the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and California State Parks conducted an archaeological investigation of the historic Russian cemetery. One hundred thirty-one Orthodox burials were identified including a large number of women and children, revealing that the settlement was a mercantile village with many families.

"To the northeast at a cannon shot's distance they have their cemetery... (a) mausoleum atop a sepulcher of three square steps, from larger to smaller. Above these was a pyramid two yards high, and over it a ball topped off by a cross, all painted white and black, which is what most attracted one's attention when you descend from the mountain. Over another burial... they placed only something like a box, and over that Kodiaks a cross..." -- Father Payers, 1822.

These monuments have disappeared, but when this photograph was taken in 1895 remnants were still visible.

Erected by California State Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1990.

Location. 38° 30.839′ N, 123° 14.571′

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W. Marker is near Jenner, California, in Sonoma County. Marker can be reached from Coast Highway (State Highway 1) near Fort Ross Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19005 Coast Highway, Jenner CA 95450, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Ross Defenses (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Ross Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Ross Cove (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Russian Village Site - Sloboda (about 400 feet away); Sandy Beach Cove (about 500 feet away); The Native Alaskan Village (about 600 feet away); California's First Windmill (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Call Family Residence (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jenner.

More about this marker. This marker is located at Fort Ross State Park.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 19, 2015

2. The Russian Cemetery Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 298 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 17, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.