Abstract
This project prepares an updated National Historic Landmark (NHL) nomination for Sutter’s Fort to be peer-reviewed in Spring 2023. This nomination departs from traditional fort narratives and argues that Sutter’s Fort is eligible under NHL Criterion 1 because of its national significance within borderlands and preservation history. Revisions made to the nomination address the prior comments and concerns and specifically focus on enhancing the nomination’s argument, cohesion, and clarity while also incorporating new research. Tracing the origins of the preservation movement to grassroots efforts, this project considers the relationship between memory, identity, commemoration, and preservation. As preservation practitioners today seek to broaden the stories represented at historic sites, this project illustrates that understanding how communities chose to preserve the past remains key to creating inclusive histories and broadening site interpretations.