Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park

{{Short description|Historic building in Chico, California, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Bidwell Mansion State Historical Park | image = Bidwell Mansion, May 2021.jpg | caption = Bidwell Mansion in May 2021 | location = 525 Esplanade, Chico, California, United States | coordinates = {{coord|39|43|56.47|N|121|50|36.53|W|region:US_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | architect = Henry W. Cleaveland | built = 1865 | architecture = Italianate, Italian Villa, Octagon house | designated_other1 = California | designated_other1_number = 329<ref name=CHL /> | designated_other1_date = August 8, 1939 | added = March 24, 1972 | refnum = 72000216<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2013a}}</ref> }}

'''Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park''' was a historic building with surrounding land in Chico, California, United States. It is listed as a California Historical Landmark #329 under the name "'''Rancho Chico And Bidwell Adobe'''" in 1939;<ref name=CHL>{{cite ohp|329|Rancho Chico And Bidwell Adobe|2024-12-11}}</ref> and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the name "'''Bidwell Mansion'''" on March 24, 1972.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bidwell Mansion |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/72000216 |website=NPGallery, Digital Asset Management System}}</ref> On December 11, 2024, the building was destroyed by arson, although the bulk of the brick and masonry frame remains standing. <ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-12-11 |title=Chico's historic Bidwell Mansion destroyed in early-morning fire |url=https://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/breaking-news-bidwell-mansion-in-chico-goes-up-in-flames-early-wednesday-morning |access-date=2024-12-11 |work=KRCR |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |last1=Anguiano |first1=Dani |title=The landmark home of a California family was destroyed by fire. Now a city reckons with its painful history |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/09/bidwell-mansion-chico-california-indigenous-people |publisher=The Guardian, UK |date=February 9, 2025 |quote=...charged 30-year-old Kevin Carlson with allegedly using an incendiary device to start the fire inside the mansion.}}</ref>

== History == Bidwell Mansion was the home of General John Bidwell and Annie Bidwell from late 1868 until 1900, when Gen. Bidwell died. Annie continued to live there until her death in 1918. John Bidwell began construction of the mansion on his 26,000 acres (110 km2) Rancho del Arroyo Chico in 1865, during his courtship of Annie Ellicott Kennedy. After their marriage in 1868, the three-story, 26-room Victorian house became the social and cultural center of the upper Sacramento Valley. The mansion was a $60,000 project, and was finished in May 1868.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cummins |first1=Fredd |title=Chico: A 20th Century Pictorial History |date=January 1, 1995 |publisher=Enterprise-Record: James L. Dimmitt}}</ref>

When constructed, Bidwell Mansion featured modern plumbing, gas lighting and water systems. The three-story brick structure was built in an informally romantic version of the Italianate style. It also had aspects of the Italian Villa and Octagon house types present. The building's exterior was finished with a pink tinted plaster.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

From 1925 to 1935, Bidwell Mansion served as a dormitory for Chico State Teachers College female students.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Steve |date=2007-04-23 |title=But This is Chico: Bidwell Mansion as a rooming house for women |url=https://www.chicoer.com/2007/04/23/but-this-is-chico-bidwell-mansion-as-a-rooming-house-for-women/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |work=Chico Enterprise-Record |language=en-US}}</ref> The mansion was later dubbed "Bidwell Hall" and housed the art and home economics departments.

The state of California acquired the site in 1964.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sadek |first=Muna |date=2024-11-14 |title=Historic Bidwell Mansion's $2.3 million upgrade now set to finish in March |url=https://krcrtv.com/news/local/historic-bidwell-mansions-23-million-upgrade-now-set-to-finish-in-march |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=KRCR |language=en}}</ref>

Some of the interior scenes from the film ''The Thin Man'' (1934) were shot inside the mansion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Padilla |first=Cecilio |date=2024-12-11 |title=California's historic Bidwell Mansion in Chico destroyed by fire; Victorian home was "Thin Man" film location |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/chico-bidwell-mansion-fire/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |work=CBS Sacramento |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Fire and destruction === thumb|Ruins of Bidwell Mansion after a fire on December 11, 2024|alt=Ruins of Bidwell Mansion after a fire on December 11, 2024 In the early morning on December 11, 2024, a fire swept the mansion. It was reported that the top tower collapsed at 4:05 a.m.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saam |first=Kelli |date=2024-12-11 |title=Chico's Bidwell Mansion destroyed in early-morning fire Wednesday |url=https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/chicos-bidwell-mansion-destroyed-in-early-morning-fire-wednesday/article_6d13ccf2-b7b7-11ef-a6c6-3b99ebb3f989.html |access-date=2024-12-11 |work=Action News Now |language=en}}</ref> Arson was determined as the cause of the fire.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hutchison |first=Jake |date=December 17, 2024 |title=Bidwell Mansion fire was arson, State Parks says |url=https://www.chicoer.com/2024/12/17/bidwell-mansion-fire-was-arson-state-parks-says/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=Enterprise-Record}}</ref><ref name="Guardian" /> The mansion had been closed for renovations since early 2024, with plans to reopen in March 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=LaFever |first=Matt |date=2024-12-11 |title=Fire destroys Northern California's Bidwell Mansion, icon of Chico history |url=https://www.sfgate.com/northcoast/article/fire-destroys-california-bidwell-mansion-19973855.php |access-date=2024-12-11 |work=SFGATE |language=en}}</ref> No injuries were reported.<ref>{{Cite news |last=LaFever |first=Matt |date=2024-12-11 |title=Fire destroys Northern California's Bidwell Mansion, icon of Chico history |url=https://www.sfgate.com/northcoast/article/fire-destroys-california-bidwell-mansion-19973855.php |access-date=2024-12-12 |work=SFGATE |language=en}}</ref> On March 5, 2025, thirty-year-old Chico man Kevin Carlson was sentenced to 11 years in state prison for intentionally starting the fire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Adam |date=2025-03-05 |title=Chico man sentenced to 11 years for arson of historic Bidwell Mansion |url=https://krcrtv.com/news/local/chico-man-sentenced-to-11-years-for-arson-of-historic-bidwell-mansion |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=KRCR |language=en}}</ref> The recovery planning effort will include close coordination with stakeholders, community members, and the Mechoopda Tribe. The first stage of recovery focuses on debris removal, then moves into planning and execution. According to Matt Teague, District Superintendent for the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Northern Buttes District, this initial phase may take roughly a year. The long-term vision is to restore and elevate the mansion as a richer, more engaging historical site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gutierrez |first=Hannah |date=2025-02-13 |title=State Parks outlines recovery plan for Bidwell Mansion post-fire |url=https://krcrtv.com/news/local/state-parks-outlines-ambitious-recovery-plan-for-bidwell-mansion-post-fire |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=KRCR |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park}} *[https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=460 Bidwell Mansion SHP web site] *{{HABS |survey=CA-1317 |id=ca0059 |title=Bidwell Mansion, 525 Esplanade, Chico, Butte County, CA |dwgs=10 |data=10}}

Category:1972 establishments in California Category:Buildings and structures in Chico, California Category:California Historical Landmarks Category:California State Historic Parks Category:Historic house museums in California Category:Houses in Butte County, California Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in California Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in California Category:Italianate architecture in California Category:Museums in Butte County, California Category:Parks in Butte County, California Category:Protected areas established in 1972 Category:Victorian architecture in California Category:Tourist attractions in Chico, California Category:Villas in the United States Category:National Register of Historic Places in Butte County, California Category:Arson in 2024 Category:Buildings and structures in the United States destroyed by arson