Shortly past Bodega Bay going north is Fort Ross Historical Park. It's well worth the $8 entry fee (even if we had left our CA State Park pass back at the house).
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| Splinter @ Fort Ross |
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| Visitor's Center |
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This fort was the farthest south of the Russian settlements and was built orginally for the fur trade. The Russians brought Aluets with their kayaks from Alaska to hunt down the once populous sea otters. They also brought carpenters and tradesmen to build the fort out of the once plentiful redwoods.
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| Russian flag flies over the Fort |
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| Inside the Fort looking at the Pacific |
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The blockhouse (heavily fortified with cannons) was the first line of defense against the British and Spanish who had competing interests in the area (hummmm... sounds a bit like our modern competition for oil in the Middle East).
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| Outside |
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| Inside |
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The store house was the main hub of activity and to us the most interesting to visit because it shows how the Russians made their living.
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| Store House |
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| Real Goods |
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| Business Office |
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The main attraction, at least for modern tourists, is the lovely church.
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| Water well and Church |
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| Postcard shot |
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| Inside altar w copula |
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Of course we couldn't leave without some goofing off around the fort.
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| Marti attempts to light off a cannon |
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| Peter poses as the ghost of a fur trader |
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