Rotchev House facts for kids
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Fort Ross Commander's House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fort Ross State Historic Park |
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| Nearest city | Fort Ross, California |
| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1812 |
| Architectural style | Log building |
| Part of | Fort Ross (ID66000239) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000150 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | May 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 5, 1961 |
The Rotchev House is a very old and important building located at Fort Ross State Historic Park in California. It was built in 1812. This house is special because it's the only building still standing from when the Russian-American Company settled in California. It's also one of the very few Russian-built structures left in the entire United States. Because of its history, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1970. The whole Fort Ross area is also a National Historic Landmark.
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What is the Rotchev House?
The Rotchev House is found inside Fort Ross State Historic Park. This park is on the coast of Sonoma County in Northern California. The house is a single-story building. It measures about 36 feet by 48 feet.
How the House Was Built
The house was built using large redwood timbers. These timbers were cut by hand into square shapes. They were then joined together at the corners using special notches. The roof is very steep and made from redwood planks. These planks can be as long as 23 feet and about 1 inch thick. Workers carefully shaped the planks to help rainwater flow away from the roof.
Inside the Rotchev House
The inside of the house is divided into seven smaller rooms. There is also one larger main hall. This design allowed for different living and working spaces within the building.
History of Fort Ross and the Rotchev House
Fort Ross was started in 1812. A team from the Russian-American Company built it. Their leader was a man named Ivan Kuskov. The Rotchev House was one of the first buildings constructed in that first year. Other buildings included places for soldiers to sleep, a chapel, and storage buildings.
Who Lived in the House?
The house is named after Alexander Rotchev. He was the very last Russian commander at Fort Ross. He lived there before the Russians left.
The Sale of Fort Ross
In 1841, the Russian company sold Fort Ross. The buyer was John Sutter. The Russian company then left the fort in 1842. The Rotchev House remained as a reminder of their time there.
