Museum of Fort Ross in California may close

Russian settlement and fort on the coast of the U.S. state of California, Fort Ross, who is now a historic state park (Fort Ross Historic State Park), has been threatened with closure, according to the Associated Presse.Pochti two centuries a symbol of Russian colonists, along with hundreds of other national parks could be closed connection with the plan to reduce the cost California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who this summer approved the legislators. A total of 279 national staff parkov.V connection with the probability of closing the monument to Russian settlers to Russia's Ambassador in Washington, Sergei Kislyak Governor of California sent a letter in which he has asked Schwarzenegger to consider Fort Ross as a cultural and historical heritage in deciding which of the parks close. "I would hope that even in difficult times, the importance of Fort Ross as a symbol of the rich history of California and the United States, as well as the memorable sites of historical significance in the Russo-American relations would be taken into account when your office will make the final decision, "- said in a letter Kislyak Kalifornii.Arnold Governor Schwarzenegger replied that he understands the importance of Fort-Ross for the Russian and American with Russian roots and try to keep as much as possible in public parks. But the Russian fort on the promise is not given in connection with the financial problems of the state, RIA Novosti. California's budget was revised in July to cover the 26-billion deficit. The reduction has affected many areas of education and penal system to social programs. In this case the state cuts $ 14 million for the California Department of Parks and Recreation, thereby reducing costs by 10%. Fort Ross, located about 120 miles north of San Francisco, operated since 1812 and was considered the southernmost Russian settlement in North America . It is believed that the first Russian colonists built a shipyard and windmills in California. Hundreds of people visit the fort over the weekend. On the territory of the settlements built Orthodox church, where from time to time, place of worship. Russian living in the U.S., visited Fort Ross as a sign of respect to the first Russian settlers who dug in on the American coast and were engaged in fishing, agriculture and trade.