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General announcementDue to the devastating December 2024 fire at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park, both the park and the Visitor Center remain closed.
During this closure, BMA is excited to 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. |
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The draft post-fire assessment for Bidwell Mansion, including technical analysis, photographs, and appendices, has been released and is now available for review.
The report provides a professional condition assessment of the Mansion following the December 2024 fire. While it does not make final recommendations or determine what will happen next, it documents the extent of the damage, identifies what remains, and discusses possible future approaches for the site. The assessment confirms that most of the Mansion’s wood structure and interior architectural features were destroyed. The most significant surviving portion of the building is the brick masonry shell. Testing suggests that portions of the masonry may still be strong enough to support vertical loads, though any reuse would require significant repairs, stabilization, hazardous materials work, and seismic strengthening. The report also identifies a small number of potentially salvageable items, including some bricks, select rear-porch wood components, decorative corbels, window-sash weights, tower balustrade pieces, and a possible fireplace surround. In addition, measured drawings and some original wood components survived because exterior rehabilitation work was underway at the time of the fire. These records and materials may be important resources as future options are studied. Several possible future treatments are discussed in the report, including retaining and reinforcing portions of the brick structure, full reconstruction, or stabilizing the remaining walls as a visible ruin. The report does not recommend one option over another. BMA will continue to follow the process closely and advocate for transparency, meaningful communication, community involvement, and a future that honors the history, educational purpose, and public significance of Bidwell Mansion. |
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California State Parks has filed a civil lawsuit in Butte County Superior Court against Advantage Total Protection (ATP), the alarm company responsible for monitoring Bidwell Mansion’s fire and burglary alarm systems at the time of the December 11, 2024, arson fire.
According to State Parks, the lawsuit alleges that ATP failed to properly inspect and test the system when it assumed the contract in June 2024, failed to monitor the Mansion as required, and failed to ensure that the alarm system would alert authorities in the event of a fire. State Parks also alleges that ATP indicated the required testing had been completed and that the system was operating as it should. |
Photo courtesy of Chico State | Jason Halley, University Photographer
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Still Standing: John Bidwell's Magnolia—State Champion treeOf all the trees surrounding the Mansion, the magnolia just outside the front door was the only one to suffer significant damage in the December 2024 arson fire.
The tree splits into two main trunks. The one farthest from the Mansion appears to be in fairly good shape, while the one closest to the house — and the flames — shows damage to the bark and branches. Even so, it still seems to be supporting a healthy canopy higher up. Experts have examined the tree, and some work is expected to help stabilize it. Chico’s urban forester, Richie Bamlet, determined that pruning will be needed to remove dead wood from the side closest to the fire. At the same time, his measurements suggested something remarkable: the magnolia may be the largest of its kind in California. He proposed nominating it as the state champion silver magnolia, and it won! The magnolia will also receive special protection as contaminated soil around the Mansion is addressed. In the area near the tree, contamination will be capped rather than removed to prevent damage to its roots. The story goes that John Bidwell was once told the magnolia would not do well in Chico because the climate was not humid enough. He planted it anyway, and it thrived. Driving around town, it is easy to see how many others followed his lead. Magnolia trees clearly adapted just fine to Chico’s dry air—and this one, despite all it has endured, may soon receive special recognition of its own. |
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California State Parks has officially launched its Reimagine Bidwell Mansion Park State Historic Park planning effort. Over the next 15 months, they will be working with us and the community to create a Vision Plan that honors the mansion’s history while also exploring possibilities for its future.
You can learn more about this outreach effort at reimaginebidwellmansion.org, where you can also share your memories through the Memory Sharing Tool and stay up to date on engagement opportunities by joining their mailing list. |
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(Matt Bates/University Photographer/Chico State)
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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 Updates 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. |
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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. |
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History not only educates, but also inspires and defines who we are. It reminds us of where we come from and how far we’ve come. The Bidwell Mansion Association is proud to encourage and foster a love of history through support of the Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park.
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Consider making a monetary gift to continue education, preservation, and interpretation at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park.
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