|
|
|
General announcementFollowing the devastating fire at Bidwell Mansion, both the park and the Visitor Center remain closed. Currently, we do not have a reopening date for the Visitor Center or the General's Store.
During this closure, BMA will be collaborating with local historical organizations, such as the Stansbury House, Chico History Museum, and Chico Heritage Association, to host events and maintain community engagement. |
|
Most of the debris has been removed from the north and front faces of Bidwell Mansion
|
Most of the debris on the front of the house and on the north side has been removed. Progress has been made on the south side, facing Big Chico Creek, but there’s still quite a mess to be cleaned up there.
We’ll focus on the north side today, the side facing the visitor center. It’s an area with some history, because it once included what some have called “the bulge.” That consisted of two additions to the original footprint of the 1868 mansion. In 1908, Annie Bidwell had a new kitchen added north of the original mansion kitchen. In 1927, Chico State added a dining hall to the building, which was then being used as a women’s dormitory. |
|
When State Parks took over the mansion in 1964, that space became the park visitor center. It served as the visitor center until 1993, when the new center was built just a bit north.
Both additions were torn down in 1997, although there had been some debate about whether Annie’s kitchen should be saved. The final decision was to restore the mansion to its appearance in 1868. The removal and reconstruction of “the bulge” was done by Chico master builder Tim Simonds. He gave a talk about the process recently at the Chico History Museum. Laura Urseny has written an article based on that talk and additional interviews, and it should appear in the Enterprise Record in the next few days. |
The debris is still piled tall at the southwest corner of Bidwell Mansion
|
|
Over the past few months, we’ve been fortunate to join forces with our sister organizations for some truly memorable events. From honoring the legacy of the mansion at Bidwell Mansion: The Stories We Share exhibition at the Chico History Museum, to enjoying sweet treats and sunshine at the Stansbury Ice Cream Social, and proudly walking in the 4th of July Parade—this summer has been filled with connection, reflection, and community spirit.
|
(Matt Bates/University Photographer/Chico State)
|
On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, our community suffered an unimaginable loss with the devastating fire at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park. Despite the swift and diligent response of fire crews, the mansion could not be saved.
To stay updated on the fire and the ongoing recovery efforts, please visit our Bidwell Fire information page. There, you’ll find the latest news, details about the fire’s impact, and updates on the path forward. To learn more about the restoration project the mansion was undergoing before the fire, please visit our Restoration Project page. |
|
Guided tours of Bidwell Mansion are currently CANCELED due to the temporary closure of the park.
At this time, it is uncertain when the park Visitor Center and the General's Store will open again More Info at the State Park website. Take a Video tour of bidwell mansion
While the park is closed, please join Noel Lopez from Bidwell Mansion SHP, as he gives a tour of the Mansion and talks about the history of the Bidwells in California on
C-SPAN3–American History TV. Click HERE to watch the episode. |
|
