Bidwell Mansion 
Bidwell Ranch as visible in Birdseye view of Chico 1871
| Location |
| 525 Esplanade |
| Hours |
| FALL 2014 HOURS! |
|
Saturday, Sunday and Monday 11:00am-5:00pm. Last tour leaves at 4pm. We will no longer be open on Friday for tours during fall. |
| Phone |
| (530) 895-6144 |
| Website |
| http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=460 |
| Owner(s) |
| California State Parks |
| Entrance Fees |
| Adult 18 and over: $6.00 |
| Youth 5-17: $3.00 |
| Children 4 and under: Free |
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park (more commonly called Bidwell Mansion) is currently a part of the California State Parks service. It was the home of Chico's founder John Bidwell and his wife, Annie. It is a three story Victorian home with 26 rooms. Tours of the house are available, which last about 50 minutes and include most of the interior. School children growing up in Chico can count on getting at least one tour of the mansion during their elementary school years, as it has been a common field trip destination for generations. In addition to group tours, there is a visitor center with information about the mansion and the Bidwells and a gift shop. Bidwell mansion allows visitors a chance to get a peek into Chico's past and an opportunity to learn more about the pioneer who founded it.
The mansion was a $60,000 project, and was finished in May 1868.1
The property surrounding Bidwell Mansion is host to many exotic species of plants. In front of the mansion is an enormous Magnolia tree. But perhaps the weirdest tree of all is the Monkey Puzzle Tree, from Chile. It may very well be over 100 years old!2
Bidwell Mansion Photos
East side of Bidwell Mansion with Stables in view 
Monkey Puzzle Tree at Bidwell Mansion 
Visitor Center
See also
- Annie Ellicott Kennedy Anderson bench
- Northern California Natural History Museum
- Bidwell Mansion Visitor Center
- Bidwell Footbridge
Comments
2009-04-02 23:19:55 I would love to read the sign's. what do they say? —69.120.164.85
2011-03-16 12:25:26 please add more info —71.197.103.13
2011-03-16 12:26:08 i am doing a report on it
—71.197.103.13
2011-03-16 20:12:36 I can't wait for you to update this page with what you find out, including proper citations. Speaking of which, please remember to cite this page if you use it for your report. —RyanMikulovsky
2011-03-24 19:33:56 will do and thanks —67.161.183.40
2011-03-24 19:34:19 and btw im 10 —67.161.183.40
2011-03-27 11:01:49 how do you cite this page?!?
—67.161.183.40
2011-03-27 11:03:29 how should i do my report when i do a model diagram
—67.161.183.40
2011-03-27 12:40:49 This page would be cited just like any other website used for a report. There are countless styles for citations, so it's really a question for whoever assigned the report. As for the second question about the model diagram, that would also be best answered by whoever assigned it, as they would know best what they are looking for. Good luck! —StaceyEllis
2011-03-31 19:35:49 thanks but i need to come up with the model diagram —67.161.183.40
2012-03-14 15:52:57 why was it built —137.164.193.1
2012-03-24 12:00:27 i think this needs more info, i need more for my report —99.137.21.139
Footnotes
1. Chico: A 20th Century Pictoral History
2. But This is Chico: Constructing mansion's present through stories passed, ChicoER, 8/4/2008, http://www.chicoer.com/columnists/ci_10089219
