Near Jenner in Sonoma County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Fort Ross Cove
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 19, 2015
1. Fort Ross Cove Marker
Caption: Copper sheathing and iron spikes, remnants of the first ship built on the west coast of the continental United States, were found in an archaeological investigation the cove in 1996-1998.
Inscription.
Fort Ross Cove. .
site of the Russian Shipways . This map of Fort Ross dated 1817 shows "Little Rumiantsev Cove" as well as the galiot Rumiantsev., the first ship built on the California coast. Also in the cove area were a number of buildings including a forge and blacksmith shop, tannery, cooperage, and public bath. There were sheds for Russian launches and the Native Alaskan "baidarkas" and "baidaras," and a boat shop and shipways for building ships. , The three other Russian-American Company ships built at Fort Ross were brigs, Ruldakov, Volga, and Kiakhta. The shipyard was abandoned by 1825, but the Company continued to build smaller boats. An artists reconstruction shows the cove in 1820 when the Buldakov was launched.
site of the
Russian Shipways
This map of Fort Ross dated 1817 shows "Little Rumiantsev Cove" as well as the galiot Rumiantsev., the first ship built on the California coast. Also in the cove area were a number of buildings including a forge and blacksmith shop, tannery, cooperage, and public bath. There were sheds for Russian launches and the Native Alaskan "baidarkas" and "baidaras," and a boat shop and shipways for building ships.
The three other Russian-American Company ships built at Fort Ross were brigs, Ruldakov, Volga, and Kiakhta. The shipyard was abandoned by 1825, but the Company continued to build smaller boats. An artists reconstruction shows the cove in 1820 when the Buldakov was launched.
Erected by California State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1817.
Location. 38° 30.769′ N, 123° 14.593′ 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, Jenner CA 95450, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
More about this marker. This marker is located at Fort Ross State Park.
Also see . . . Historic Pomona Shipwreck: March 17, 1908. California State Parks' page for the Pomona shipwreck, including several photos. (Submitted on July 17, 2015.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 19, 2015
2. Fort Ross Cove Kiosk
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 19, 2015
3. Marine life panel at the Fort Ross Cove kiosk
Shipwreck
The SS Pomona sank at Fort Ross. She lies in less than 40 feet of water, 400 yards offshore. A marker buoy identifies the wreck's location from both water and land vantage points. The SS Pomona with her triple expansion steam engine was built in 1888, and traveled regularly between San Francisco and Vancouver. She struck a rock south of Fort Ross and ran aground in Fort Ross Cove where all of the passengers and crew were saved.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 19, 2015
4. Second marker located at Fort Ross Cove
Here at Fort Ross Cove, the Russians established the first shipyard in California. Also found here was a bathhouse, a large storehouse, a cooperage, a tanning shop and the Colony's blacksmith shop.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 19, 2015
5. Fort Ross from the Fort Ross Cove beach
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 327 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 17, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.