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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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Mansion UpdatesAnnual BMA members meetingLet’s kick off 2026 together!
We hope you’ll join us for the Annual Members Meeting of the Bidwell Mansion Association—an evening to reconnect, share what we’ve accomplished, and look ahead to the work still to come.
Saturday, January 24, at the Gateway Science Museum
(625 Esplanade, Chico—next door to the Bidwell Mansion Visitor Center) 6 p.m. – BMA Members Business Meeting 6:30 p.m. – Steve Schoonover, Guest Speaker — this event is free and open to all BMA members and guests -- We will begin with a brief business meeting, followed by BMA board member and author Steve Schoonover, who will share insights from his book Before Ishi: The Life and Death of the Yahi, which aims to untangle the true history of the Yahi people from the mythology surrounding Ishi.
Schoonover will begin the focus of his talk in July 1865, when the murder of two white children in Butte County sparked calls to remove all Native people from the region. John Bidwell attended the tense meeting at Pence’s Ranch, defending the Mechoopda from collective blame—a stand that would shape his complicated role in the events that followed. Schoonover explores how Bidwell helped shield the Mechoopda, securing cavalry protection at Rancho Chico while navigating both community hostility and state politics. He’ll also share what drew him to the story and how his research uncovered surprising truths. Through this talk, attendees will gain a deeper, more nuanced view of the Yahi, Bidwell, and a difficult chapter of California history. |
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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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