Representatives of many nationalities around the world have contributed to the creation and development of the United States, and we must not forget about the contribution that belongs to the Russians. As early as the end of the 18th century, Russian industrialists-St. John's wort and farmers - began to settle in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, in what later became known as Russian America. Despite the fact that Alaska was sold by Russia to the United States in 1867, the cultural heritage of Russian pioneers was preserved both in the Orthodox religion of the local population - Aleuts, Eskimos, Indians and Creoles, as well as in the customs, vocabulary, and geographical names of the former Russian territory. Alaska is full of Russian names: islands, bays, straits, mountain peaks, lakes remind us in our time of the names of G. I. Shelikhov, A. A. Baranov, N. P. Rumyantsev, Yu. F. Lisyansky, I. F. Kruzenshtern, O. E. Kotzebue, F. P. Wrangel, S. V. Voevodsky, A. F. Kashevarov and many others. others. Two lakes on Baranov Island are even named after the children of the first ruler of Russian America, A. A. Baranov (in the USA he was called the "Lord of Alaska") - Irina and Antipater.

Studying the history of Russian cultural penetration into the North American mainland and recalling the pages of the past, one cannot pass by a small Russian settlement on the California coast, which was called "Ross village and fortress" when founded, and later, as in our time, is called Fort Ross. N. P. Rezanov, a statesman and diplomat, one of the directors of the Russian-American Company founded in 1799, suggested the idea of establishing a fortress in California. As part of the first Russian round-the-world expedition, Rezanov visited Alaska and became convinced of the food difficulties experienced by Russian settlers there. In search of sources of expanding the food base, as well as marine St. John's wort, expeditions were sent from Novo-Arkhangelsk - the center of Russian America-to California. In this connection, we should mention the name of one of the most famous figures of the initial period of the history of Russian America, Ivan Alexandrovich Kuskov, the closest associate of Baranov.

The expedition led by Kuskov arrived for the first time in Zaliz Bodgga in Ce-

Prof. Nicholas Rokityansky, head of the Department. The Department of "Russians in California" of the California Historical Center, De Anza College (USA), gave this lecture on September 2, 1976 at the Institute of Soviet History of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

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She returned to California in December 1808, and remained there until August of the following year. This was a kind of preparation for the decisive step that was taken in 1811, when Kuskov once again appeared on the California coast, now with the firm intention of gaining a foothold there and establishing a kind of agricultural base for supplying the population of Russian America, primarily with bread and vegetables. In the spring of 1812, Kuskov agreed with representatives of Indian tribes to cede a place 18 Italian miles north of Maly Bodega Bay. Here it was decided to build a fortification called Slavyansk, or Ross.

The construction of the fortress began in March 1812, and in the autumn the main works were already completed, and on August 30 (September 11 to the present day) of the same year the solemn consecration of the fortress took place. The celebrations were attended by 25 Russians, 80 Aleuts and Indians. Behind the strong wall were the governor's house, barracks, warehouses, and outside the fort-barnyards, all sorts of service and economic buildings, workshops, a bathhouse, etc. Thanks to the energy of Kuskov and his assistants, the production of bricks, barrels, leather processing, and weaving was established. Gardening and horticulture were developing successfully. But the cultivation of cereals did not always go well: the lands closest to the fort were not very fertile due to precipitation after heavy sea fogs, and the development of new lands required additional efforts and new workers. Livestock and poultry were growing well. Shipbuilding was also not forgotten: a shipyard was built near the fort, which made it possible to build three ships. With their help, they established regular communication with Alaska, and also sailed to the nearest places to the south, establishing trade relations with the Spanish missions. All this made it possible to sufficiently meet the food needs of the village of Ross. But there was no need to think about large supplies to Alaska, although Kuskov supplied the ships of the Russian - American Company with supplies.

Kuskov's main goal was the development of agriculture. But he did not abandon the marine industry: people hunted sea beavers, whose skins were the main trade item of the Russian-American Company, caught fish, and also hunted animals in the surrounding forests. Being an inquisitive person, Kuskov collected information about the natural conditions of the area. Later, two Russian scientists, whose names are well known in the history of science: Kirill Khlebnikov and Ilya Voznesensky, did a lot in this direction. It should be noted that although the Spaniards were the first Europeans to discover California, they showed little interest in exploring this territory. Kuskov, however, soon after the founding of the village and fortress, Ross took steps to study the surrounding area, putting its data on a map. A river named Slavyanka (otherwise known as the Russian River) was partially surveyed. The Russians went up the Sacramento River and explored its valley. This can also be judged on the basis of the fact that on the Spanish map (close to that time period) we find the name of a tributary of the Sacramento - Rio Okhotsk (Okhotsk River), later renamed the American River. Few people living in California now know that to this day in the forests near this river, the ruins of two chopped huts of Russian origin have been preserved. This is the remains of a base of Russian hunters who entered here in search of river beavers. Russians were also attracted to the slopes of the Sierra Nevada range. In the depths of the current state of California, they discovered a fire-breathing volcano, which the Spaniards did not suspect. The double-headed peak of the Cascade Range, now called Shasta, may be related terminologically to the Russian word "happiness". At the foot of this majestic mountain, hunters from the Kuskov party buried a numbered metal plaque with the image of a cross and the inscription "Land of Russian ownership". Similar planks were buried on Kuskov's instructions near Maly Bodega Bay (renamed Rumyantsev Bay) and north of San Francisco, in what is now Marin County. And the first known Russian map of the California coast was compiled in 1817, when Fort Ross was managed by Kuskov; the map was compiled by the navigator of the Kutuzov ship I. M. Kislakovsky. Speaking about the various activities of Russian settlers on the shores of California, one more important circumstance should be noted: Fort Ross was a kind of scientific base for studying the surrounding places. Founder Ross Kuskov, K. T. Khlebnikov and E. L. Chernykh, who visited California many times, and especially I. G. Voznesensky made a great contribution to the study of the natural conditions of California, its flora and fauna, the local population, soils and climate.

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The fortress of Ross was in the field of view of Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Despite the unfriendly, sometimes even openly hostile attitude of Spain towards Russia at that time, Kuskov managed to establish friendly, good-neighborly relations with the nearest Spanish missions and establish a lively trade exchange with them. Through his assistant Sysoy Slobodchikov, he restored trade with the Hawaiian Islands. When the Spanish authorities tried to prove to Kuskov the illegality of the foundation of Fort Ross, he said that he had obtained the consent of the California Indians. By the way, Kuskov and his subordinates constantly maintained friendly relations with the Indians. The Indians called their foremen "hoibo", while the Kuskovas called them "apihoibo", that is, "big boss". Ekaterina Prokhorovna Kuskova, the wife of the first ruler of Fort Ross, helped establish friendly relations with the Indians. She spoke the language of the Indians and made attempts to create a Russian-Indian dictionary.

The personality of Kuskov himself has always attracted the attention of everyone who was interested in the history of Fort Ross. He was a native of the Russian North, from those parts from which both A. A. Baranov and K. T. Khlebnikov came. When in 1822, after 32 years of being in Russian America, Kuskov decided to return to his homeland, he received from the then chief ruler of Russian America a letter of gratitude. And Muravyov's testimony, which highly appreciated his services and, in particular, said: "He pacified the warring crowds of savages and for many years kept these savages in alliance with those living in the fortress, and only by measures of meekness and justice." Having reached his hometown of Totma in the Vologda province, Kuskov died in the fall of 1823. His name will never be forgotten in California: after all, for 11 years he, the founder of Fort Ross, was its manager.

Kuskov's successors at Fort Ross were K. I. Schmidt, P. I. Shelikhov, and P. S. Kostromitinov, who, each in their own way, made their own contribution to the life and affairs of this most remote point of Russian possessions on the North American mainland south of Alaska. Smallpox vaccination was introduced, and not only to the settlers of the fortress, but also to people from nearby Spanish missions; the production of necessary products in workshops was established; fruit orchards and vineyards were successfully bred. When Kostromitinov was created huge farmsteads-ranches. A very interesting, romantically vivid figure among Kuskov's successors was Alexander Gavrilovich Rotchev, the last ruler of Fort Ross, who, with a painful heart, signed a document selling it to an American citizen, J. R. R. Tolkien. To Sutter in 1841. From a young age, Rotchev distinguished himself as a talented poet and translator, an active participant in Moscow's literary and theatrical life. In Russian America (first in Alaska, and from 1838 to 1841 in California), Rotchev worked as an employee of a Russian-American company. He went there with his wife and two young children. Elena Pavlovna Rotcheva, nee Princess Gagarina, belonged to a well-born Moscow family. After becoming governor of Fort Ross, Rotchev became known as an energetic administrator who managed to cope with considerable difficulties. There is a lot to say about this man and his adventurous life. It is not for nothing that Rotchev and his wife are the main characters of V. P. Petrov's novel "The Saga of Fort Ross"published in the United States in Russian .1 But the most complete restoration of Rotchev's biography is possible only by studying archival and other sources available in the USSR. That is why we, American enthusiasts of the history of Fort Ross, are very interested in the long-term work of the Moscow scholar V. I. Bezyazychny, who collected a huge amount of material related to Rotchev and his biography, including its California pages .2
As ruler of Ross, Rotchev did a great deal to continue that research

1 Viktor Petrov. The Saga of Fort Ross. Book 1. 2. Washington, 1961, 1963. This historian and writer is the author of a series of works of fiction about Russian America (including the trilogy: Viktor Petrov. Russian Columbians. Washington. 1971; same name. Chamberlain of the court. Washington, 1973; same name. End of the loop. Los Angeles. 1975) and historical works: V. Petrov. Fort Ross. A brief sketch of the historical monument of the Russian stay in California, 1812-1841. Los Angeles. 1974; same name. Russian America. Los Angeles. 1975.

2 In particular: In I. Bezyazychny. He was a man... (From the pages of an extraordinary biography). "Volga", 1970, N 12; version of this article: V. Bezyazychny. Last Russian Commandant Ruled Well at Fort Ross. "The Press Democrat", 30.VII.1967.

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surrounding places, which was started by Kuskov. It was during Rotchev's time that the Russian ethnographer I. G. Voznesensky visited Ross, whose works are thoroughly covered in Soviet science. Rotchev explored, in particular, the Russian River and Mount St. Helena. It was during his expedition to the Slavyanka River basin in May 1841 that its tributaries received Russian names: Olkhovka, Voznesensky River, Chernykh River, Rotchev River.

Speaking about the history of Fort Ross, one should not forget the well-known books in the United States, both in the original and in English translation, by S. G. Fedorova, a researcher at the Institute of Ethnography of the USSR Academy of Sciences .3 These books contain a lot of new material, including documents that first became the property of science as a result of author's research. Data about Fort Ross, reported by S. G. Fedorova, are one of the most important sources for reconstructing the history of the fortress. Experts from the United States in general closely follow the works of Soviet researchers, which pay attention to California, especially Fort Ross, and note that along with the works of S. B. Okun and A.V. Efimov, which were well known to them earlier, the works of N. N. Bolkhovitinov, R. V. Makarova, A. I. Alekseev and other Soviet scientists have appeared in recent years. scientists 4 . I think it is appropriate to recall here the words of the famous Soviet historian, the late A. I. Andreev, who wrote back in 1944 that the study of Russian America can be successfully completed only by the joint efforts of American and Soviet historians .5 Our time provides opportunities for further fruitful cooperation in this area.

The former Russian fortress has long been home to the Fort Ross Museum, which is now experiencing a time of particularly increased interest from not only Russian Americans, but also all residents of the state of California. In 1970, a fire destroyed the chapel on the museum grounds, but thanks to the energy of a group of enthusiasts supported by the California State Administration, the chapel was completely restored in 1974. Work is currently continuing on further restoration of the barracks and the governor's house at Fort Ross

3 S. G. Fedorov. Russian population of Alaska and California. The end of the XVIII century-1867 Moscow, 1971 (English translation: S. G. Fedorova. The Russian Population in Alaska and California. Late 18th Century - 1867. Transl. and Ed. by R. A. Pierce and A. S. Donnelly. Kingston (Ontario). 1973; ejusd. The Population of Russian America (1799 - 1867) /The Russian Population of Alaska and California/. Fairbanks, 1973); her own. Ethnic processes in Russian America. "National processes in the USA", Moscow, 1973 (English translation: S. G. Fedorova. Ethnic Processes in Russian America. Transl. by A. Shalkop. Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts Museum. Occas. Pap. N 1. Anchorage. 1975); her own. Flag of a Russian-American company. "From Alaska to Tierra del Fuego", Moscow, 1967 (English translation: S. G. Fedorova. The Flag of the Russo- American Company. Transl. by P. Woolf. Ed. by W. Colwell. "The Pacific Historian". A Quarterly from the University of the Pacific, Stockton, California. Vol. 14, N 1, Winter 1970).

4 s. B. Okun. Russian-American Company, Moscow-L. 1939 (English translation: S. B. Ocun'. The Russian-American Company. Transl. by S. Ginsburg. Cambridge (Mass.). 1951); his own. Russian settlements in California in the 19th century "Scientific Notes" of Leningrad University, series of Historical Sciences, No. 32, 1939; A.V. Efimov. Iz istorii velikikh russkikh geograficheskikh otkrytii [From the History of the Great Russian Geographical Discoveries], Moscow, 1971; his. SSHA: puti razvitiya kapitalizma (pre-imperialist epoch), Moscow, 1969; " Atlas of Geographical Discoveries in Siberia and North-West America, XVII-XVIII vv." Ed. and with an introduction by A. V. Efimov. Comp.: A.V. Efimov, M. I. Belov, O. M. Medushevskaya, Moscow, 1964; N. N. Bolkhovitinov. The Formation of Russian-American Relations, 1775-1815, Moscow, 1966 (English translation: N. N. Bolkhovitinov. The Beginnings of Russian-American Relations. 1775 - 1815. Transl. by E. Zevin. Introd. by L. H. Butterfield. Cambridge (Mass) - L. 1975); his. Russo-American Relations, 1815-1832, Moscow, 1971; ejusd. On the Present State of American Studies in the Soviet Union. "American Studies. An International Newsletter", vol. XI, Autumn 1972, N 1; R. V. Makarova. Russians in the Pacific Ocean in the second half of the 18th century, Moscow, 1968 (English translation: R. V. Makarova. Russians on the Pacific, 1743 - 1799. Transl. and Ed. by R. A. Pierce and A. S. Donnelly. Kingston (Ontario). 1975); her own. Russian foreign policy in the Far East. The second half of the XVIII century - the 60s of the XIX century Moscow, 1974; its. Russian America in the Works of Soviet historians (60s-70s). "Proceedings" of the Moscow Historical and Archival Institute, vol. 30, 1974, vol. 1; A. I. Alekseev. The Fate of Russian America. Magadan. 1975; his own. Russian Geographical Studies in the Far East and North America (XIX-early XX centuries). Moscow, 1976.

5 " Russian discoveries in the Pacific Ocean and North America in the XVIII-XIX centuries (collection of materials)". Ed. and in the pred. by A. I. Andreev. Moscow-l. 1944, p. 6; see also: A. I. Andreev. Russian discoveries in the Pacific Ocean in the XVIII century (Review of sources and literature). "Russian discoveries in the Pacific Ocean and North America in the XVIII century" M. 1948.

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A. G. Rotcheva. The state of California has allocated 600 thousand dollars for this. There are a number of American publications dedicated specifically to Fort Ross: the collection "Russians in California", published in 1933 in English in San Francisco; a commemorative album, published in 1937; several scientific studies and guidebooks 6 .

American scientists plan to continue this work in the future, expanding scientific ties and cultural contacts with Soviet scientists. In memory of Russian America and Fort Ross as a part of it, a medal was issued in 1976 in honor of the founder of the village and fortress of Ross, I. A. Kuskov.

6 "The Russians in California". "Quarterly of the California Historical Society", vol. XII, 1933, N 3; "Fort Ross-an outpost of the former glory of Russia in America (to the 125th anniversary), 1812-1937". Comp. and ed. by A. P. Farafontov. Shanghai. 1937; J. C. McKenzie. Some Points of Interest at Fort Ross State Historical Monument. "MS Fort Ross", 1.III.1948; A. E. Treganza. Fort Ross. A Study in Historical Archaeology. "MS University of California", 1953; Y. P. Haase, The Russian-American Company in California. Vol. 1 - 2. "MS University of California", 1955; V. Hogg. Historic Fort Ross a Preliminary Development and Feasibility Study.

"The California Department of Parks and Recreation", 1970; W. E. Pritchard. An Archaeological Study of the Chapel at Colony Ross. "MS Fort Ross State Historic Park". Sonoma County. 1972; "Fort Ross the Russian Settlement in California (Indians-Russians-Americans)". Publ. by the Ross Citizen' Advisory Committee. To Commemorate the Re-dedication of Fort, 8.VI.1974; "Fort Ross State Historic Park. Resource Management Plan and General Development Plan" Sacramento. 1976, etc.

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