Russian Fort Elizabeth facts for kids
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Russian Fort
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Fort Elizabeth
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 Location in Kauai
Location in Hawaii
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| Nearest city | Waimea, Kauai County, Hawaii |
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| Area | 17.5 acres (7.1 ha) |
| Built | 1817 |
| Architect | Dr. Georg Anton Schäffer |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000299 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
Russian Fort Elizabeth is a special historical place, now called the Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park. You can find it near Waimea on the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi. It was once known as Fort Elizavety (in Russian, Форт Елизаветы). This fort is the last Russian fort left on the Hawaiian islands. It was built in the early 1800s by the Russian-American Company. They built it because they made a deal with a powerful chief named Kaumualiʻi. This fort has a unique star shape. Later, the Kingdom of Hawaii used it in the 1800s and called it Fort Hipo (in Hawaiian, Paʻulaʻula o Hipo).
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Building a Russian Fort in Hawaii
In 1815, a German doctor named Georg Anton Schäffer came to Hawaiʻi. He worked for the Russian-American Company. His job was to get back goods that Chief Kaumualiʻi had taken on Kauaʻi island.
Meeting the Kings
Schäffer first tried to make friends with King Kamehameha I. King Kamehameha had united all the islands of Hawaiʻi. He was facing problems with Kaumualiʻi, who was a bit rebellious. Schäffer hoped to get Kamehameha's help to get the goods back from Kaumualiʻi.
Schäffer was a good doctor, and King Kamehameha respected him. But Kamehameha would not help the Russians against Kaumualiʻi. So, Schäffer went to Kauaʻi on his own.
A Deal with Chief Kaumualiʻi
To Schäffer's surprise, Chief Kaumualiʻi was very eager to make a deal. He signed an agreement that would put Kauaʻi under the protection of the Russian ruler, Tsar Alexander I. Kaumualiʻi even told Schäffer that the Russians could take over all the Hawaiian islands.
Schäffer promised that Tsar Alexander would help Kaumualiʻi become free from Kamehameha's rule. Kaumualiʻi had promised to be loyal to Kamehameha in 1810. It is likely that Kaumualiʻi never truly planned to give up his power. He probably thought Russia would help him get his own kingdom back.
Building the Forts
Kaumualiʻi let Schäffer build a fort near Waimea. This fort was named Fort Elizabeth (in Russian, Elizavetinskaya Krepost’). It was named after the Russian Empress at that time, Louise of Baden.
Two other forts were built near Hanalei on Kauaʻi. They were called Fort Alexander and Fort Barclay-de-Tolly. These were named after Tsar Alexander and his marshal, Barclay-de-Tolly.
Fort Elizabeth was built in 1817. It was on the east side of the Waimea River, looking over Waimea Bay. The fort was shaped like an uneven octagon. It was about 300 to 450 feet across, with walls 20 feet high. Inside, there was a small Russian Orthodox chapel. This was Hawaiʻi's first Orthodox Christian church.
The Russians Leave
People soon found out that Schäffer did not have the full support of the Tsar. Because of this, he had to leave Kauaʻi in the fall of 1817.
Captain Alexander Adams then took down the Russian flag. He put up the new flag of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Russian Fort Elizabeth then came under the control of King Kamehameha's supporters.
Fort Elizabeth's Later Years
In 1820, the fort's cannons fired a salute. This was for Kaumualiʻi's son, Prince George "Prince" Kaumualiʻi. He arrived on a ship called Thaddeus, bringing American missionaries home.
A Rebellion and the Fort's End
In 1824, Humehume tried to start a rebellion. He attacked the fort. But the fort was used as a base to capture him. This helped keep the kingdom united. The fort was no longer used after 1853.
Taking Apart the Fort
The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi later asked Valdemar Knudsen to remove the weapons from the fort. Other forts across the kingdom were also being taken apart around this time.
In 1862, Knudsen listed all the weapons at Fort Elizabeth. There were 60 muskets, 16 swords, and many cannons of different sizes. In 1864, as the fort was being closed, Knudsen was loading weapons onto a ship to sell them for scrap metal. One or two cannons fell into the water of Waimea Bay.
Visiting Fort Elizabeth Today
The fort is located on the southeastern shore of the Waimea River's mouth in Waimea, Kauai County, Hawaii. You can find a small parking lot south of the Hawaii Route 50 bridge. This bridge is also known as Kaumualiʻi Highway.
At the park, you can walk along an interpretive path. There are also restrooms available. You can get a brochure to guide yourself around the site. Visitors can explore the remains of the fort, enjoy the scenery, take photos, and learn about its history.
Images for kids
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Fort Elizabeth from above
