This history of the 29 years the Russians spent in their settlement in California (1812-1841) was written in 1898 and subtitled “Why the Russians Came and Why They Left” has recently been reprinted for The History of the American West collection. I have always been interested in Fort Ross because my grandfather’s family was friends with the G.W. Call family who were the last owners of Fort Ross before it became a State Park. My grandfather worked on the Call ranch in the summers when he was a teen and in later years my father was a visitor there when his family came to visit on their vacations.

Thompson’s account of the history of this historic site begins with a story of how the settlement came to be and a description of what happened during those 29 years, especially the political machinations of the powers who were jockeying for position in settling California. The Russians were encroaching on Mexican/Spanish territory; hence the settlement was built as a fort to deter the Mexicans from trying to oust them. Two extra missions were established to prevent the Russians from encroaching any further. The British also hoped to gain a foothold in this area by obtaining permission to build a harbor at San Francisco, about 80 miles south of Fort Ross. Americans were also migrating to this area and establishing control of the interior of the California Province, especially the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys because Mexico was working to maintain control of the coastal area up to the coastal range—the mountains on the west side of California.

Thompson’s writing style is charming, easy to read and includes interesting anecdotes which bring the history to life. In addition to his own consecutive and concise history he includes excerpts from the writings of two explorers who came to Fort Ross: Sir George Simpson, Governor in Chief of the Hudson Bay Co. who came to try to get Mexico to allow him to establish a British port at San Francisco; and Captain Otto Von Kotzebue, a Russian sailor and scientist who had dreams of ousting the Mexicans and claiming all of California. These contemporary observations are especially interesting and revealing. ( )