Not every Russian settlement becomes a cultural centre not only for its compatriots but also for hundreds of people of other nationalities. Preserving such places is not an easy task. RENOVA Charity Fund has undertaken obligations to support one of these places — the famous Fort Ross, which marked its 200th anniversary in 2012.

On 23 June 2010, during the meeting with then president of Russia Dmitry Medvedev and governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger head of the Russian group of companies RENOVA Viktor Vekselberg have signed an agreement about the preservation of Fort Ross as a historic monument of Russia-US relations. As a result of this meeting a special Fund Renova FortRoss Foundation has been created in US, which is meant to realize projects on reconstruction and preservation of Fort, as well attracting money for supporting the development of this national sight.

One of the priority tasks the Fund is facing is the reconstruction of the Fort‘s buildings by the 200th anniversary of the fortress. RENOVA Charity Fund has allotted money for the reconstruction of the roof of the house of Alexander Rotchev — the only building in the Fort dating back to XIX century, helped to restore the fruit garden, financed digitalization of 500 old books from the settlement’s library. The fund also actively helped to create Russian national costumes and uniform of XVIII-XIX centuries, which were necessary for recreating memorable historical scenes — an indispensable part of celebrating 200th anniversary of the fortress.

RENOVA Fund will continue supporting this cultural-historic establishment –the full value work of the museum should be arranged, several more buildings should be restored. And if all these plans are realized, then the Russian national culture will be available to even those who haven’t heard about the southernmost Russian settlement in North America in 200 years.