Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort, and the man who built it, is important for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it led to the first major organised European settlement in Sacramento and secondly, it is here that California's greatest asset was first discovered ....gold.
In 1834 Johann Sutter was sent by the governor of Mexico to establish an outpost in California. Sutter decided on Sacramento as the ideal place in which to build the fort. He also recognised the potential of the area for future settlers. In 1847 he established a sawmill near the tall evergreen trees to the east of Sacramento, which could be used to build residences for settlers. During a routine inspection of the area surrounding the mill the following year, gold was discovered for the first time in California. Thus began the Gold Rush. People flocked to California with the hope of making their fortune. Most arrived via Sacramento, resulting in its growth and emergence as an industrial city.
Located at 2701 L Street, in mid-town Sacramento, the Sutter's Fort Historic Park details this interesting history from the worries of the war with Mexico to the glorious Gold Rush era. It also runs a Living History programme that occasionally acts out a typical day in the fort in 1846. It is best to check beforehand to see if such a programme will be running during your stay in Sacramento. Admission is priced at $5 for adults and $2 for children (children under 6 enter free).
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