Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
CA
© Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The Bidwell Mansion at the north end of Chico's Esplanade is a 26-room Victorian house museum that tells the story of John and Annie Bidwell: pioneer, farmer, statesman, and one of the more interesting couples to have shaped 19th-century California. It's a house tour in the truest sense, with knowledgeable docents and rooms that feel lived-in rather than staged.
Details
- 🏞️Type
- State Park
- 🏛️Managed by
- California State Parks
- 📍State
- CA
- 🗺️Address
- Chico, CA, 95926
- 📞Phone
- (530) 895-6144
- 🕐Hours
- No hours available for this park.
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📡GPS
- 39.73274, -121.84315
The Place
Built in the Italian Villa style, the three-story brick mansion dates to the late 1860s, when John Bidwell was at the height of his political and agricultural influence. Guests who came through included President Rutherford B. Hayes, General Sherman, Susan B. Anthony, John Muir, and Ulysses S. Grant at the Bidwells' wedding.
The rooms reflect both the wealth and the convictions of the family: Annie Bidwell was deeply involved in the temperance and suffrage movements, and those commitments show up in the interpretation. The mansion features early-era plumbing and gas lighting that were advanced for their time.
Note: The mansion suffered arson damage in December 2024. Call ahead to confirm current operating status and tour availability before visiting.
When to Go
The Visitor Center is open Saturday through Monday, with tours on the hour and the last tour at 4pm. The building is temperature-controlled, making it a comfortable year-round stop.
Getting There
From Highway 99, take the East First Avenue exit west, then turn left on the Esplanade. The park is at 525 Esplanade at Memorial Way. From I-5, take Highway 32 east through Orland to West Sacramento Avenue, then turn left to the Esplanade and right (south) to the park. Phone: (530) 895-6144.
What to Do
The docent-led tour covers three floors and takes about an hour. The first floor is accessible via an exterior ramp; the upper two floors require approximately 50 stairs. Visitors who cannot climb stairs can watch an open-captioned video of the upper floors in the fully accessible Visitor Center, which also has a museum, gift shop, and theater.
Reservations & Fees
Call 530-895-6144 for current admission and hours. Group tours and school field trips require advance reservations. No metal detectors or drones allowed on the grounds.