The Native American
Pomo tribe populated this
region long before the explorers arrived. The forested mountains were rich with game, a
wealth of botanicals on hand to forage. The Pacific Ocean provided generous marine
bounties of it's own. The richness
attracted the Russian Traders, trappers and explorers. In 1812 Fort
Ross was founded as a Russian colony , the settlement survived 29 years.
It served as a headquarters for Russian fur trappers, a trading outpost and an
agricultural center. The restored structures on the 1,600-acre park include the
stockade, blockhouses, commandants house and a very special Orthodox Chapel. There
is also a museum, in the visitors center where you can see Russian and Pomo artifacts. The Mexicans
occupied this area as well, the Muniz Rancho was one of the larger Mexican land grants in
now day Sonoma County, it is situated just north of Jenner near Russian Gulch. In those early days
the primary forms of transportation into the area were horseback, horse drawn coach or the
railroad. The tracks ran right into the village of Cazadero were the old
Berry's Saw Mill was located and still stands. Cazadero was a popular place to
visit by train by many notables and the upper crust in San Francisco in the late
1800's. After the destruction of San Francisco at the turn of the Century it was
rebuilt largely with Redwood timber from Cazadero. One of the most
famous of the bandits of the wild west,
Black Bart
reputedly had hid out and stashed his loot in the high Cazadero ridges, geographically
known as the Mendocino Highlands, East of King Ridge Road and south of Tin Barn Road
somewhere. There may be "gold" in them thar hills! Many believe that
was a ruse to through the authorities off his trail he was living in San Francisco all the
while. |
