Fort Ross in
Jenner (CA)

Good views, cool fort, check out the beach and the cemetery.

Best of the best. Thank you, Americans, for preserving Russia's ancient culture so we can enjoy, feel, and touch what our ancestors created. Thank you for not destroying and spoiling it like the Ukrainians do. I'm proud of our little piece of Russian-American soil. God bless America ????❤️

Wow. What a cool place. Who knew this was a historic fort back in the day. Russian/American endeavor. Whoever knew Russians had a foothold. Such a wonderful and educational place to visit. The surrounding beach views are amazing. Also, America's very first windmill. The fort was built as a supporting effort for exploration and support, trade and foothold establishment. Check it out on Google or YouTube. Amazing construction. Must see. A national park. No tickets required. Minimal parking fee/park entrance fee.

We had an amazing time here. We thought we'd spend 20-30 minutes. We were there almost 2 hrs and could have stayed longer but we had to get moving on to the next stop.

Very cool place to learn about early Russian colonization of early California. Museum was dated and in disarray but provided good information. The old house was very neat and the rest of the recreated buildings felt authentic even though they're not historic. Also, an evocative cemetery. Worth the trip to both if you can stomach the twisty ocean front drive.

An absolute joy to visit. Amazing historical site that is also the home of the oldest Eastern (Russian) Orthodox churches in the U.S.

I love history, and while many of the buildings aren't original, it still provided a good visual of what it was like when this settlement first started. The grounds and displays were well cared for. The restrooms were clean, and the gift shop had a nice selection of local goods.

Loved the park and the bay. Found out a ton of historical data, made all picss and videos, but lost the main camera ? Here is something you might be interested in.

Great place to walk around and see both history and views. Interesting area with both open space, buildings and groves of trees sheltered from the wind. 10$ to park and that can be used at all the parks along 1 as well so very much worth it.

We were here on a weekday, we didn't have to wait to get in, ticket $10. The museum area is huge, but clean and nice everywhere. The incredible atmosphere of this historical place, well-kept area and many buildings that you can enter and see the life of that time, made this experience amazing.

Fort Ross was not a planned stop on our trip, and we are so glad we stopped. Very interesting place, beautifully reconstructed fort and living areas. With a short hike to the shore we spotted some sea lions. I very much recommend adding this to your itinerary.

I enjoyed the museum more than the fort itself. The parking pass was pretty cheap. The fort has obviously been re-made and slightly modernized, so it didn't feel as authentic. There are a lot of walking areas that were pretty, multiple bathroom areas, lots of souvenir options, and lots of history placards to read from too. When we went, it was verrry windy and I highly recommend bringing a jacket and even a snack to eat at the picnic area. The drive is sadly not the best, so plan to drive slow and take it all in.

Fort Ross is an amazing place to visit. The picturesque nature and stunning coastal views are breathtaking. The experience is so authentic, you can even catch the scent of a traditional Russian izba. I highly recommend everyone to visit at least once. The only thing missing is a café offering modern Slavic cuisine—I'm sure it would be a hit with visitors looking for a bite to eat.

Amazing historic state park in California. The fort is a must see. You’re able to walk around freely around the park and explore. The structures are very nice and contains some nice artifacts. It’s a unique place in California if you like history. Definitely stop by and visit when you’re driving Highway 1.

What an awesome place! we were very impressed with it. I would strongly recommend you check it out. This place is full of kinds of cool information and history. The park is very well maintained and would be great for the kids!!

It's a cute state park around the fort. The fort itself was kinda underwhelming since it's a self guided tour of the different sections of the fort. The small museum part of the gift store/entrance tried its best to present a neutral historical perspective for the natives and the russians, more than most other places like these do.

This place is so peaceful and beautiful! Great historic relic and Incredible feeling, kid friendly energy in the place. The museum is very respectfully quiet definitely worth a visit. Very well done in memory of that American history. The scale of Fort Ross in real life just can't be conveyed in photos. Get your tickets in advance

Stopped by in November. Weather was beautiful, and the restauration of this historical site is impressive. Great view of the ocean. There is a Russian cemetery close by. Did not see it this time.

Great place to learn the early history of California. Opens a unique perspective of the Russian exploration of America and peaceful coexistence with the local tribes. Dog friendly. Restrooms are in the visitor center and in the fort area. Close tho the ocean.

Great stop for an amazing history lesson. Take the tour and don't forget to get that perfect photo. The trail to the fort is a short walk and if you're disabled they have a few parking options for you. Have fun and enjoy the afternoon exploring the area.

This was a stop along our road trip south from Fort Bragg back to Santa Rosa. It is a worthwhile stop if you have the time. I think you can cover it in about 60-90 minutes. The Fort is small but enjoyable. I did learn a lot about the historical significance of the fort and the surrounding area. The views of the coast are great.

Amazing state park, one of the oldest! Very well maintained, incredible visitor center and restored Russian fort. Well balanced perspectives are presented of European influence and Indigenous peoples. Dioramas bring the fort to life. Check out the historic orchard, great views and a nice place to have a picnic.

The museum is small but has a lot of information, they have an informational video that runs and they allow you to go up into the building at the fort. The fort also sits on a lot of land where tou can walk along the cliffs, down to the beach and supposedly to the cemetery as well. The church is a national landmark and according to the info at the fort holds services twice a year.

Did you know that some of California was once part of the Russian Empire? Fort Ross is a great place for a lot of that history. California Parks do a good job of letting us know the native, Russian and American settlement periods and tell us almost nothing of the turbulent wars for independence Mexico was going through at the same time when the fort was in use. The Russians arrived in Spain, but left Mexico when they went home. This fort and its chapel are both a State Park and a nationally recognized historic site. The fort is nicely rebuilt and totally fun to visit for kids ages 4 to 95. It is a museum with lots of things to touch. Much of the storeroom and quarters are restored enough to get the feel of the Russian Empire times. The visitor center offers a small but interesting set of displays covering the local native cultures and the different people who inhabited the fort. There is room to form your own opinions about this fort that never saw a battle. It is worth reading about what happens to the lands and furnishings when the Russians leave. The ocean is a beach to the south, directly in front of the fort, and rocks with sea lions just north of that cove. Stay back from the sea lions. They a cute, but also large wild animals. They can and do bite. The hike down to both parts of the coastal access is steep but short and totally worth it. Expect wind. Verizon phones don't have service. Roaming cell service does not seem to work either. The visitor center has free WiFi and good, clean bathrooms. More quality bathrooms are to be found inside the fort. The shop has a wide range of good gifts related to the Russian period and the area, climate and animals in general. Very little junk. If you have a California State Park annual pass, it is honored here.

Interesting Russian fort and state park, including the first windmill in California. Wander the fort, bluffs overlooking the sea, or rocky beach. Pet friendly on improved paths (not fort, beach, etc.). Visitors Center under renovation, but gift shop open. Accessible paths, large group picnic area, old homestead, and scenic views. Well worth a stop to explore. State parks pass or day use fee. Parking available.

Great place to spend a couple hours. We got in free with our campsite tag otherwise parking was 8$. Kids had a great time exploring the nature trails and historical buildings. We even got to see seals playing and sunbathing down in the water. Cute little walk thru museum and gift shop. Picnic tables and a good sized parking lot if you have a camper in tow. Definitely recommend!

Great place to stop along the coast! Easy walking paths to the fort area and windmill. The buildings (except for the gift shop) were closed due to COVID-19; the gift shop has a clean restroom, too. Excellent views of the coast and there is a path down to the water.