Russian Colonization route is inspired by the book that I received as a birthday gift, History of the World Map by Map. I was excited to read Russian Empire’s attempt to found colonies in California in the 19th century. I got curious to find out whether there were remains of Russian settlements nearby that I can visit. I was lucky to find out that Fort Ross had been waiting for me!

This route can start from San Francisco or the South Bay. It makes a stop in Berkeley and reaches Sonoma County. It includes an optional stop in San Francisco to make the return ride more delightful. It takes about eight hours. Here is the Russian Colonization of California route:

Berkeley

Berkeley is in the route because of its geostrategic importance as the breakfast point.

La Note

La Note is a nice French restaurant with a big patio. An ideal place to grab breakfast before hitting the road.

Sonoma

Sonoma is our second stop. Our goal is to visit the Presidio of Sonoma and other historic landmarks to look at the Russian expansion from Mexico’s perspective. Also, it is an ideal place to take a break before heading north.

Sonoma Plaza

Sonoma Plaza is the central plaza of the city. It is a very lively park surrounded by many historic landmarks and wine bars.

Presidio of Sonoma

Presidio of Sonoma is the main reason why we have Sonoma in our route. Mexican military established this presidio as a counteract to the Russian expansion in Northern California. Presidio of Sonoma was the northern-most Mexican military settlement built to observe the activities of Russian America Company.

Sunflower Caffe

After visiting the historic landmarks of Sonoma, it is time to take a break and freshen up for our next stop. Sunflower Caffe is an ideal spot for a break with its nice patio and cold drinks.

Jenner

Fort Ross is in Jenner which is a small coastal town with the population of 136.

Fort Ross State Historic Park

Finally, we are at Fort Ross, the Russian settlement from the early 19th century. The start of Russia’s expansion in the Americas dates earlier than the construction of Fort Ross. Russia had settlements in Alaska and was an important player in the North Pacific trade. Then the empire decided to expand southwards and established a settlement around Bodega Bay. The stockade is still intact and accessible.

San Francisco

Time to had back to the city or the South Bay.

Cinderella Bakery & Cafe

Although I had to skip the Cinderella Bakery stop, the original route included it as the final stop before heading home.

There is much more to Russia’s expansion to America. Any route on this topic without Alaska can only be a superficial attempt. But this does not change the fact that Fort Ross is a great day trip destination for anyone living in the Bay Area. ●