Introduction to Sutter's Fort: Sutter's Fort is all built in the 1850s and is the best place to explore history. 170 years ago, Swiss immigrant Sutter set up camp here and established his kingdom, and developed grapes and wheat. In 1848, he discovered gold while building a sawmill in Coloma, next to the American River, which triggered a gold rush and a wave of immigration, and California became glorious.