Rotchev House

The Rotchev House is a historic house at Fort Ross State Historic Park in the U.S. state of California. Built in 1812, it is the fort's only building to survive from the period of the Russian-American Company's California settlement. It is one of a very small number of Russian-built structures in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970 as the Commander's House, Fort Ross.[1] (Fort Ross as a whole is also a National Historic Landmark.)

Fort Ross Commander's House
Rotchev House is located in California
Rotchev House
Rotchev House is located in the United States
Rotchev House
LocationFort Ross State Historic Park
Nearest cityFort Ross, California
Coordinates38°50′52″N 123°14′37″W
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built1812 (1812)
Architectural styleLog building
Part ofFort Ross (ID66000239)
NRHP reference No.70000150[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 15, 1970
Designated NHLMay 15, 1970
Designated NHLDCPNovember 5, 1961

Description and history

The Rotchev House is located in Fort Ross State Historic Park, located on the Northern California coastline of Sonoma County. It is a single-story structure measuring about 36 by 48 feet (11 m × 15 m), built out of hand-squared redwood timbers joined by notches at the corners. It is covered by a steeply pitched hip roof fashioned out of split and hewn redwood, laid in planks as long as 23 feet (7.0 m) and as much as 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. The planking is chiseled in place to help channel water away from the gaps between planks further down the roof. The interior is divided into seven chambers and a larger hall.[2]

Fort Ross was founded in 1812 by a team from the Russian-American Company under the leadership of Ivan Kuskov. The Rotchev House is one of the buildings constructed during the first year; other buildings included barracks, a chapel, and storehouses. The fort was sold in 1841 to John Sutter and was vacated by the Russian company in 1842.[2] The house is named for the last Russian commander, Alexander Rotchev.

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rotchev House (Fort Ross, California).
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "NHL nomination for Commander's House, Fort Ross". National Park Service. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
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