El Dorado County, CA (March 8, 2025) – In June 2020, the statue of John Sutter, a prominent figure in California’s early history, was removed from its position outside Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento. This action followed growing concerns regarding Sutter’s treatment of Native Americans during the 19th century.
Sutter, known for establishing Sutter’s Fort and his association with the California Gold Rush, has been a subject of controversy due to accounts of his exploitation and mistreatment of indigenous peoples. Critics highlighted that his legacy includes instances of forced labor and other abuses against Native American communities.
The decision to remove the statue was influenced by these historical grievances. A spokesperson from Sutter Health stated that the removal was conducted
“out of respect for some community members’ viewpoints, and in the interest of public safety for patients and staff”
The statue had also been vandalized prior to its removal, reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding monuments of historical figures with contentious pasts. This incident was part of a broader national movement reexamining public symbols and their alignment with contemporary values.
The removal of Sutter’s statue underscores the ongoing dialogue about how history is commemorated and the importance of acknowledging all aspects of historical figures’ legacies.
The statue of John Sutter, which stood outside Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento until its removal in June 2020, was originally donated by the United Swiss Lodge of California in October 1987.
The 8-foot-high, one-ton statue, valued at $130,000, was gifted to the then-Sutter General Hospital.
Sutter Health, the organization overseeing the medical center, made the decision to remove the statue
“out of respect for some community members’ viewpoints, and in the interest of public safety for patients and staff.”
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of a statue of John Sutter, a figure central to California’s early history, from a rural cemetery near Volcanoville. The statue, weighing approximately 1,500 pounds and standing 10 feet tall, was reported missing on February 21.
Originally located outside Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, the statue was removed in 2020 amid controversies surrounding Sutter’s treatment of Native Americans. After discussions with its owners, the Swiss Club in Sacramento, it was relocated to the cemetery adjacent to a Gold Rush-era pioneer cemetery in El Dorado County.
Jeff Schmidt, a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West and a volunteer caretaker of the park and cemetery, expressed his disappointment: “We lobbied to bring it up here, to have a final place where he could overlook, again, the pioneers of California. Unfortunately, as we are possibly the stewards of California history, we lost General Sutter a couple of weeks ago.”
Craig Davis, also of the Native Sons of the Golden West, questioned the motive behind the theft:
“In order to find this cemetery, you have to know it’s here. What are you going to do with it other than display it in your yard? Sell it for scrap? I don’t know. It’s just senseless.”
The organization is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information about the theft or the statue’s whereabouts is urged to contact the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.
