Fort Ross, California USA
[Russian Orthodox]
Fort Ross, founded by the Russian-American Company in 1812, was the furthest south Russian settlement. It was intended to support Alaskan settlements with timber, otter fur, and agriculture. The chapel, finished in 1925, was not consecrated as it never had a permanent priest, and reader services were held. The settlement closed in 1941 for economic reasons. The fort became a ranch, a logging business, and a port and social center. The chapel was used for weddings, but also as stable or storehouse. Later owned by the state, the chapel collapsed in the 1906 earthquake, was put back together in 1916, and declared a National Historic Monument in 1969. Destroyed by fire in 1970, this designation was lost as the reconstruction was no longer original.More information