Living History at Sutter's Fort

June 14th, 1846 dawned unseasonably cool at Sutter's Fort in what would one day be Sacramento.
Among those present at the fort was trapper, tracker and teller of tall tales James Bridger:

The fort was also graced by a visit from Francisca Benicia Carrillo Vallejo, wife of Mariano Vallejo, who held the highest military position in Mexican California.  By the end of the day he would be a prisoner at the fort.

Kit Carson was also there.  Very shortly he would become the only man to kill another man in the Bear Flag Revolt.

They arrived in wagons.

They examined furs for sale.

And, feeling the need for some exertion, they stepped in for the Indian children--who work the mill day and night--and gave the grist mill a few turns.

The postman distributed letters at noon.

And then the plotters of the Bear Flag Revolt discussed plans.

After the revolt there was tug of war, general rabble rousing and  reel and circle dancing.

A doctor arrived to tend the sick and injured.  She applied leaches and performed brain surgery and an amputation.  The chances of survival from the last were no better than 50/50.

Yes, we had it all, from bloody revolts to revolting bloodletting.
I've shown it here in sepia, but really it was history in living color.