Sutter’s Fort

Sutter's Fort, established in 1841 by John Sutter, was a colony in California that later became Sacramento. Sutter, a Swiss pioneer, was granted land by the Mexican governor and built the fort as a frontier hub for traders and immigrants. He exploited the labor of local Native Americans.1

The discovery of gold in a streambed near Sutter's sawmill in 1848, by James W. Marshall, precipitated the California Gold Rush. Despite Sutter and Marshall's attempts to keep the find secret, news spread, leading to workers deserting the colony and gold seekers overrunning Sutter's land. The U.S. courts' denial of his land titles led to Sutter's bankruptcy. The Gold Rush significantly increased California's population and hastened its statehood.12