Sutter's Fort

Friday was our day to explore the historic parts of Sacramento.  Sutter's Fort was the first on our list.

 Of course, it was named after John Sutter, who was actually named Johann August Sutter. He was born in Germany, but was considered a citizen of a Swiss village of Runenberg.  Guess that is how they did it back in those days.   It was his mill in Coloma where gold was discovered, he was the founder of Sacramento and a fierce businessman.  I would also call him a dirty rotten scoundrel.

Why? He emigrated to America in 1834, leaving behind his wife, 5 children and his debts.  He did take his clothes and books. When he built his fort, he used native people.  If they didn't want to work for him, his militia attacked their villages until they relented. There are some references of him giving village children to ranchers to be used as servants.   He wouldn't be called a good Samaritan by any stretch of the imagination.  Years later, 1850, he finally sent for his wife and children....what a guy!

The fort is located in the heart of downtown Sacramento. What changes it has seen!

This is what it looked like in 1894.....and what it looks like today.

Sutter used the lumber from his mill to make all the furniture for his fort.  He raised cattle for food and set up a tannery to make saddles, shoes and other leather goods.

He also raised different types of wheat and all the bread for the fort was made with his crops.  In addition, he shipped wheat to Russia for pay for his purchase of Ft. Ross. The bread was baked in an oven like this.

In the end, all the money that he made was mostly gone.  He lost a lot of money because of his drinking and gambling.  Somehow, I don't feel the least bit sorry for him.