National Historic Landmark

Sutter's Fort

Sacramento, Sacramento County, California
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
66000221

About this property

Sutter's Fort was a 19th-century agricultural and trade colony in the Mexican Alta California province. Established in 1839, the site of the fort was originally part of a utopian colonial project called New Helvetia (New Switzerland) by its builder John Sutter, though construction of the fort proper would not begin until 1841. The fort was the first non-Indigenous community in the California Central Valley, and saw grave mistreatment of Indigenous laborers in plantation or feudal style conditions. The fort is famous for its association with the Donner Party, the California gold rush, and the formation of the city of Sacramento, surrounding the fort. It is notable for its proximity to the end of the California and Siskiyou Trails, which it served as a waystation. In modern times, the adobe structure has been restored to its original condition (38.5723°N 121.4712°W / 38.5723; -121.4712) and is now administered by California Department of Parks and Recreation. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

Location

2701 L St.
Sacramento, Sacramento County, California
38.57227, -121.47149

Categories

COMMERCECONSERVATIONEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Sutter's Fort

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Old Tavern
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Eastern Star Hall
Industrial
0.1 mi
Winters House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Greene, John T., House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Cranston-Geary House
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Sutter's Fort listed on the National Register?

Sutter's Fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Sutter's Fort?

Sutter's Fort is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Sutter's Fort a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Sutter's Fort has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Sutter's Fort?

The period of significance for Sutter's Fort is recorded as the early_republic era.

Can I research the history near Sutter's Fort?

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