Fort Ross
Introduction
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Established in 1812, Fort Ross is the site of a historic Russian settlement and fort and the only such site (and the furthest south) the Russians founded on the continental United states. It is is situated near the coast and a part of Fort Ross State Historic Park. The site consists of two reconstructed blockhouses, a restored commandant's house, a restored chapel, and a reconstructed blockade that protected the settlement. The purpose of establishing the fort was to establish trading ties with the Spanish, who by then were present in California, and so that it could serve as an agricultural depot that would supply the Russian bases in Alaska. The Russian presence greatly concerned the Spanish as well as the Americans in the east. The fort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark and California Historical Landmark.
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Backstory and Context
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