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Fort Ross is located north of the San Francisco Bay area on the Pacific Coast Highway. It is approximately 94 miles north of San Francisco and about 12 miles north of the coastal town of Jenner.
The fort was built by the Russians and represents their southernmost expansion on the North American continent. An interesting side note is that when you consider the European countries that explored North America, The French, English and Spaniards traveled west over the Atlantic whereas the Russians went east.
The explorations by the Russians were basically for trading purposes rather than to colonize. They established the Russian-American Company, somewhat on the same lines as the Hudson Bay Company. The main interest was the fur trade such as beaver and otter. The fort was established primarily as an agricultural settlement to supply provisions to the surrounding traders. At the time of settlement the Spanish influence in California extended north to San Francisco. All of this pretty much came to an end in the mid 1840’s when the United States expanded into California after the U.S-.Mexican War.
There are several reasons why this makes an excellent side trip. The fort has been designated a state park and there is much to explore there. Lots of history is explained when you enter the fort compound. It’s also very convenient in as much as it’s proximity to the Sonoma County wine country and the drive there is spectacular along the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s one of those drives where you’ll take many pictures. Fort Ross is situated right on the coast with magnificent ocean views.
These websites will give you a lot of additional information on the area:
www.militarymuseum.org/FtRoss.html
www.googlemaps.com
Here are also some very good restaurants in the towns of Guerneville, Occidental and Bodega Bay south of Fort Ross:
Lucas Wharf- Bodega Bay
The Tides- Bodega Bay
Union Hotel- Occidental
Applewood Inn & Restaurant- Guerneville
HistoricDestinationsOfEasternAmerica 