Bidwell Mansion SHP - Restoration 2024

1. Banister of the tower looking North East.

2. Top of the tower looking down at the roof.

3. View from inside the tower looking west at the cupola.

4. Looking down on the roof to the west from the top of the tower.

1. The Ballroom.

2. View from the parlor looking into dining room.

3. View from dining room looking into parlor.

4. The Foyer.

In 1847, John Bidwell started his residency in Butte County in a one-room cabin on Butte Creek just South of present-day Chico. Two short years later he acquired the 22,214-acre Rancho Del Arroyo Chico land grant in two installations in 1849 and 1851. Soon Bidwell strategically erected a two-story adobe next to the California-Oregon Road where all interstate traffic passed. Bidwell used the adobe as a hotel, tavern, and general store, maintaining it as his residence until constructing his mansion. Today a cement monument stands on the corner of Esplanade and Sol-Wil-Le-No Ave to mark the original location of that structure.

In 1864, John Bidwell ran on the Union Ticket with Abraham Lincoln as California’s State Representative, serving in the House from 1865 to 1867. Once in Washington, Bidwell felt that he had entered ‘society’ and needed a house that reflected his new position. In 1865 Henry Clevland, a San Fransico Architect credited with constructing many of the upper-class houses in San Fransico and Sacramento, began construction on the Mansion employing the Mechoopda, specialists from the Bay Area and residents from the newly founded Town of Chico. Completed in 1868, after just three years, Bidwell’s Mansion boasted state-of-the-art gas lighting, a cupola for air circulation, and was the first house North of Sacramento with indoor plumbing. These features were a testament to Bidwell’s forward-thinking and his desire to bring modern comforts to the region.

 For the remainder of the Bidwells’ residency, the mansion served as their home, meeting house, and destination for special guests such as John Muir, Susan B. Anthony, and President Hayes, among others. When Annie Bidwell passed away in 1918, the mansion was inherited by the Presbyterian Church. Unable to afford the upkeep of the home, the church sold the mansion to Chico Normal School (later Chico State University) in 1923. The school initially repurposed the mansion as a girls’ dormitory, but after about a decade it was used for classrooms and offices. 

^{Courtesy of California State Parks - Portrait of John Bidwell}

^{Courtesy of California State Parks - Portrait of Annie Bidwell}

California State Parks gained possession of the property in 1964, a dedicated team has been tirelessly working on the restoration and preservation of Bidwell Mansion. This ongoing process is a testament to California State Parks' commitment to preserving this important piece of history for future generations to enjoy and learn from.

Original Rancho Del Arroyo Chico land grant. The western boundary is the Sacramento River between where Big Chico Creek feeds into the river and Scotty’s landing. The Eastern boundary now encompasses Upper Bidwell Park and the Southern boundary ran along Big Chico Creek. Courtesy of Chico State Special Collections, Northeastern California Historical Photograph Collection.

Bidwell’s adobe from the SE side with Chico Creek (bottom foreground) and the Esplanade (right foreground). Circa 1868 Courtesy of Chico State Special Collections, Northeastern California Historical Photograph Collection.

Bidwell Mansion under construction circa 1866-1868 showing SW Corner of the Federal Adobe (left mid-ground). Courtesy of Chico State Special Collections, Northeastern California Historical Photograph Collection.

Picture taken from a similar angle as the photos of the mansion under construction. The trees have grown to obstruct the view of the mansion if taken from the exact location of the original photos.