Doghole Port: Russian Gulch

Sonoma Coast State Park

Aerial photograph of doghole port location at Fisk Mill
Historical location of the lumber chute at Russian Gulch Landing indicated by the yellow pin. (Credit: Google Earth)

Russian Gulch Landing was an active doghole port supplied by the Russian River mills through a steam railroad system. The doghole port had a slide chute at first and later a wire chute extending from the bluff just south of Russian Gulch Beach. The area is now part of Sonoma Coast State Park. The slide chute’s use dated to the late 1890s, while the wire chute represented a more modern technology and is connected with the Western Redwood Lumber Company that was active after the turn of the 20th century.

While the most common features still present at other doghole ports are iron fittings, evidence at Russian Gulch Landing is comprised mainly of wooden features. The archaeological remains include railroad ties, unidentified wooden fragments, and regularly spaced timbers possibly indicating the location of the rail bed or road. A wire cable protruding from the ground was also recorded and is consistent with the gauge used in wire chutes.

Divers did not conduct an underwater survey of Russian Gulch Landing due to poor weather and sea conditions as well as the lack of information in the historical record to pinpoint mooring positions.

-- Deborah Marx, Maritime Archaeologist, Maritime Heritage Program, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Doghole Port photo

The lumber steamer Maggie Ross wrecked on Russian Gulch Beach in 1892. Note the two slide chutes in the background.

Credit: Sonoma County Library

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Doghole Port photo

Western Redwood Lumber Company storage yard and wire chute hoist house at Russian Gulch Landing ca. 1904

Credit: Sonoma County Library

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Doghole Port T-sheet

A lumber port had yet to be established at Russian Gulch when this U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey T-sheet was created in 1876.

Credit: NOAA’s Historical Map & Chart Collection

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Doghole Port photo

View from the headland looking north to Russian Gulch Beach near the lumber chutes’ location.

Credit: NOAA ONMS and California State Parks

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Doghole Port photo

Wire cable buried in the ground at Russian Gulch Landing is likely the bluff-end anchor terminus for the wire chute.

Credit: NOAA ONMS and California State Parks

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Doghole Port photo

An iron eye bolt on the cliff face of Russian Gulch Landing.

Credit: NOAA ONMS and California State Parks

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Doghole Port photo

CA State Parks Geographic Information Officer Paul Veisze records a road bed marked by red flags.

Credit: NOAA ONMS and California State Parks

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Doghole Port photo

Several roadbeds were found at Russian Gulch Landing consistent with the steam railway used to move lumber to the port.

Credit: NOAA ONMS and California State Parks

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