Sutter's Landing

Sutter came up the Sacramento River from Yerba Buena in August 1839 and put ashore at what the plaque calls the south bank of the American River. That bank is gone. The river now runs roughly half a mile north of here, and the monument itself was moved in 1989, so the bronze records a point on a shoreline that has shifted twice over. Sutter camped here only briefly before going inland to the ground where he built his fort. The Sacramento Pioneer Association set the smaller stone at its base.

What the plaque says

Captain John A. Sutter's Landing Captain John A. Sutter, after coming up the Sacramento River from Yerba Buena in August, 1839, landed approximately two hundred feet north of here, at what was then the south bank of the American River. A short time thereafter he moved to the site where he established a permanent camp, and later built his fort. Sutter and his men were the first settlers within the present city limits of Sacramento. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 591 Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the Native Sons and Native Daughters of the Golden West and the Sacramento Historic Landmarks Commission, August 24, 1958 In commemoration of the landing of John A. Sutter A fellow pioneer 1854 — 1888 Relocated Aug. 13, 1989 Sacramento Pioneer Association

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Sacramento — 2.1 mi
  The Gold Rush river port that became the state capital, and jacked itself ten feet into the air to stop drowning.

More markers nearby

• New Helvetia Cemetery — 0.6 mi
• Chevra Kaddisha (Home of Peace Cemetery) — 0.7 mi
• State Indian Museum — 0.7 mi
• Sutter's Fort — 0.7 mi