After the completion of a number of restoration and rehabilitation projects at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park (SHP) in recent years – including of the exterior walls and gates, seismic stabilization of the Central Building, upgrades to the pathways, exterior lighting of the interior courtyards, and renovation of the blacksmith shop – Sutter’s Fort will continue their preservation efforts, this time on the Fort’s interior walls.
Funded by donors and the Friends of Sutter’s Fort, the latest rehabilitation project will begin in September and will total approximately $115,000.
With the work being led by California State Parks, the rehabilitation process is scheduled to occur in sections around the Fort and is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. Similar to the exterior walls, the rehabilitation of the Fort’s interior adobe and brick walls will include repointing mortar, repairing cracks and applying fresh “breathable” paint to protect the surface for important historic preservation purposes.
Although much has been accomplished at Sutter’s Fort to preserve and protect the structures and artifacts and to improve the visitor experience, there is still much more work to be done. The next preservation efforts for the Fort will focus on rehabilitating the roofs of the existing interior structures (with the exception of the Central Building that was already completed in 2013).
Funding for these projects has not yet been secured, and community members and/or businesses interested in contributing to the future rehabilitation and preservation efforts at the Fort are encouraged to call the Friends of Sutter’s Fort at 916-323-7626.
Sutter’s Fort will be open daily as usual from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during this renovation and minimal disruption is expected to the visitor experience.
Fort admission costs are as follows: $5 per adult (18 and older), $3 per youth (ages 6 to 17) and free for children 5 and under. On special interpretive program days, fees are $7 for adults and $5 for youth. For more information, call 916-445-4422 or visit suttersfort.org.
