Join Our Efforts and Donate Today!

The Friends of Sutter's Fort believe in making history relevant for all generations, because we know that understanding history can change our present and our future. Every day we collaborate with California State Parks to preserve and protect historic structures and artifacts, and to engage visitors of all generations. We work hard to raise funds in support of Sutter's Fort, and to deliver the critical funding necessary to provide over 50,000 students each year with the educational experiences that bring history to life.

Preservation and Restoration

The work of preserving structures that are over 100 years old is an ongoing, daily task. Friends of Sutter's Fort is committed to helping fund these projects so that Sutter's Fort can be enjoyed for future generations to come. In the past four years alone, we have provided critical funding for several major presentations projects valued at over $800,000, including the painting of the exterior walls, the restoration of the blacksmith shop, and the painting of the interior walls.

Our current fundraising efforts include:

• RESTORATION OF THE DISTILLERY
  • Sutter's Fort is home to Sacramento's first brandy distillery. The current still on display is from the 1890s, and Friends of Sutter's Fort is seeking funds to replace the still with an 1840s era replica. We would like to create a working still, where visitors can better understand the science behind distilling.

• REBUILDING THE CANDLE MAKING STRUCTURE
  
  • During a storm in March of 2018, the temporary tent canopy was destroyed. We are currently raising funds to help California State Parks build a new structure to replace and improve upon what was lost.

• RENOVATING THE MEDIA ROOM
  • Friends of Sutter's Fort is currently working with high school students from the greater Sacramento region to produce a new and improved orientation film. We are seeking funding to help renovate the media room to make it more comfortable for visitors, and to make the space more inviting and usable.

Educational Programming

Friends of Sutter's Fort is proud to be the sponsor of these programs and provides critical funding for CA State Park staffing, materials, and supplies.

Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a premier destination for educational experiences in California, serving over 50,000 students annually. We offer educators have a variety of educational programs to choose and many programs can be customized to better meet the needs of their classrooms. Sutter's Fort serves public and private schools and homeschool groups, as well as youth groups and adult education.

Our educational programs include:

• ENVIRONMENTAL LIVING PROGRAM
  
  • This immersive 24-hour program serves over 50 schools and nearly 5,000 students each year. Students live as a pioneer arriving at Sutter's Fort in the 1840s and spend the night at the Fort.

• ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM
  
  • An alternative to the overnight program, students spend 12 hours at Sutter's Fort State Historic Park. This program is limited to 25 groups each year.

• SUTTER'S FORT OR BUST
  • A 90-minute interactive field trip option that provides hands-on learning stations for elementary school students. This popular program is available several days per week during the academic year.

• TRAPPERS' CAMP MOBILE LEARNING PROGRAM
  
  • Established in the 1980s, this program brings Sutter's Fort educational programming to students in Red Bluff and Colusa. Students visit a replica of a trapper's camp from the 1800s and learn about history, science and technology of the time. This program serves over 2,000 students every October.

• PLAYING THE PAST SCOUTS PROGRAM
  • Originally created for Girl Scouts obtaining the Playing the Past Girl Scout badge, this 2 hour program is open to all youth who seek to learn how people lived, worked and played in the 1800s.

Who are the Friends of Sutter's Fort?

The Friends of Sutter's Fort is a cooperating 501 (C)(3) nonprofit association dedicated to the preservation and protection of Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and is the proud supporter of the educational and interpretive programs at Sutter's Fort.

With your help, we can:

• Continue to repair and replace interpretive tools and supplies that allow us to share what the Fort was like in the 1840s.
• Expand our popular and family-friendly Hands on History events, as well as other educational programming.
• Provide grants to schools participating in one of our educational programs.
• Fund critical preservation projects such as the restoration of the blacksmith shop and repainting of the exterior and interior walls.

Our members and donors make it possible for us to support all this and more at Sutter's Fort State Historic Park.