A Visit to Home: Sutter's Fort

Sutter's Fort, located in Sacramento, CA, was the residence of Captain John (Johannes) Sutter, a native of Switzerland, from 1839-1849.  He had received a land grant of 48,000 acres from the Mexican officials and worked diligently to found a completely self-sufficient community.  His fort became the ending point for a number of wagon trains to California.

Approach to the Fort:

Inside the Fort:

Typical room for a pioneer family:

Cannon in a blockhouse:

The walls are 2.5 ft thick and 15-18 ft high (for an attack that never came)

Another shot for Reverend Paul and Glen:

Hoist for servicing and removing cannons from their carriages:

Kitchen:

Sutter had loom imported from Europe and had a rather good blanket manufacturing business going:

Sutter's other claim to fame, of course, is Sutter's Mill in Coloma California, where gold was discovered in the tail race of his mill in 1848.  Sadly, he was essentially wiped out in the ensuing Gold Rush and spent his declining years trying to receive restitution from the US Federal government for the loss of his lands (it never came).