A small, mysterious, and isolated mountain range juts up in the center of the flat farmlands of California's sprawling Sacramento Valley. Fifty-thousand travelers pass through the valley every day along Interstate 5 and Highway 99 or overhead by air, noticing the unusual formation and wondering about it. It is the Sutter Buttes. To nearby native peoples it was, and still is, revered as Spirit Mountain. It provoked the curiosity of the first explorers and trappers who sought the promontory for its panoramic strategic value. Later researchers and educators were also drawn to the site to further their understanding of the natural world. Productive farmland around the scenic peaks brought many settlers to "Butte Mountain." Today those who live and work in and around the Buttes feel a deep connection to the landscape. Many of their family histories are featured here, revealing a ranching and farming heritage that has been handed down for generations over the past 150 years, preserving this landmark from development. Most of the Sutter Buttes remain a vestige of California's past.

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