There are mornings when I barely have blinked my eyes; but my
life is near taking a direction all its own. Today was no
different! The phone rang at 7:17 am. On the other
end of the line was my daughter Jill. "What are you doing
today," she queried?
"Well, nothing really special, " I responded.
Jill explained, the 4th grade class of St. Mel's School,
which my grandkid, Macie, is part, was going on an adventure, which
would include a full day of interactive learning, and a sleepover at Sutter's
Fort State Historic Park.
In California, the schools choose 4th grade to study our
state history. Curriculum built around California Missions, Gold
Rush, and other important facts about California, goes live.
We are fortunate to have in Sacramento's City Center, Sutter's Fort,
which acted as a pivotal part of our state history, especially relating
to the Pioneer Days and the California Gold Rush.
It all began in the summer of
1840, when Johann Augustus Sutter (John Sutter) with the assistance of
local Indians and his own growing work force, began building what was to
become an adobe fort.
Governor Alvarado gave Sutter a land grant in 1841. Sutter had
become a Mexican citizen in 1840, to qualify for the grant, consisting
of approximately 47,827 acres. And was expected to keep order
among the Indians, and secure the land for Mexico in return.
The Mexican flag was flown at the Fort during its early days.
However the 1840s were turbulent in California, as more Americans
arrived. Sutter maintained friendly relationship with them, as
well as with the Mexicans.
In 1846, the Bear Flag Revolt in Sonoma caused a new flag; a lone star
to be raised briefly over Sutter's Fort, and soon thereafter, the
American flag was raised.
Sutter's Fort was known for being a temporary refuge for pioneers
between 1841 and 1849.
On January 24th 1848, Sutter's contractor, James Marshall,
who was building a sawmill on the south fork of the American River,
about 50 miles east of the fort, discovered GOLD. Thus
beginning, the next really important chapter in California's history.
The slide show above provides glimpses of what experiences visitors of
the Fort can have today.
Today, my grand daughter's fourth grade class acted as Docents for the
Fort. They dressed in period clothing, learned and took up the
role of pivotal characters in the Fort's past, and help in teaching
visitors to the fort. They will not only spend the entire day at
the Fort, but will be spending the night there as well!
You can Click
Here for more information on Sutter's Fort State Historic Park.
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park
2701 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95816-5613
(916) 445-4422
Written by Myrl Jeffcoat 2/25/2010
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