[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12668]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE FORT ROSS FESTIVAL AND DIALOGUE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 30, 2013

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the 
201st anniversary of Fort Ross, a California State Park and the site of 
an early Russian colony established on the North Coast of California in 
1812. The annual Fort Ross Festival and Dialogue will take place on 
July 27-29, 2013 to celebrate the history and cultural significance of 
the site, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending best wishes 
for the event.
  Fort Ross is located in the home region of the Kashaya Pomo people of 
Northern California. In the early 1800s, the Russian-American Company 
founded Fort Ross as an early agricultural and fur-trading outpost to 
support their operations from San Francisco to Alaska. Russian 
colonists developed farms, ranches, and hunting operations in concert 
with local Kashaya and Alaska Native employees, playing an early role 
in establishing the agricultural character of the North Coast.
  Today, Fort Ross is a national historic landmark, and an important 
piece of the shared history of the Russian and American people. Through 
cultural events, archeological study, and efforts to preserve the 
historical structures at the site, Fort Ross has become a hub for the 
Russian-American community and a destination for visitors from all over 
the world. The Fort Ross Festival will offer historical re-enactments 
and celebrations of Russian influence in the region while the Dialogue 
will enable Russian and American leaders to discuss Russian-American 
relations and trade in the modern era.
  As we reflect on this unique landmark of California's history, I 
thank both the Fort Ross Conservancy and California State Parks for 
their commitment to restoring and preserving the park's historic 
buildings and features. This beautiful 3,400 acre park is a jewel of 
Sonoma County's coastline and offers visitors both outdoor recreation 
and historical significance.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in marking this historic occasion and 
sending them our best wishes for a successful festival.

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