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Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park

Coordinates: 39°43′56.47″N 121°50′36.53″W / 39.7323528°N 121.8434806°W / 39.7323528; -121.8434806
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Bidwell Mansion State Historical Park
Bidwell Mansion in May 2021
Location525 Esplanade,
Chico, California, United States
Coordinates39°43′56.47″N 121°50′36.53″W / 39.7323528°N 121.8434806°W / 39.7323528; -121.8434806
Built1865
ArchitectHenry W. Cleaveland
Architectural styleItalianate, Italian Villa, Octagon house
NRHP reference No.72000216[1]
CHISL No.329[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMarch 24, 1972
Designated CHISLAugust 8, 1939

Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park was a historic building with surrounding land in Chico, California, United States. It is listed as a California Historical Landmark #329 under the name "Rancho Chico And Bidwell Adobe" in 1939;[2] and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the name "Bidwell Mansion" on March 24, 1972.[3] On December 11, 2024, the building was destroyed in a fire.[4]

History

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Bidwell Mansion was the home of General John Bidwell and Annie Bidwell from late 1868 until 1900, when Gen. Bidwell died. Annie continued to live there until her death in 1918. John Bidwell began construction of the mansion on his 26,000 acres (110 km2) Rancho del Arroyo Chico in 1865, during his courtship of Annie Ellicott Kennedy. After their marriage in 1868, the three-story, 26-room Victorian house became the social and cultural center of the upper Sacramento Valley. The mansion was a $60,000 project, and was finished in May 1868.[5]

When constructed, Bidwell Mansion featured modern plumbing, gas lighting and water systems. The three-story brick structure was built in an informally romantic version of the Italianate style. It also had aspects of the Italian Villa and Octagon house types present. The building's exterior was finished with a pink tinted plaster.[citation needed]

From 1925 to 1935, Bidwell Mansion served as a dormitory for Chico State Teachers College female students.[6] The mansion was later dubbed "Bidwell Hall" and housed the art and home economics departments.

The state of California acquired the site in 1964.[7]

Some of the interior scenes from the film The Thin Man (1934) were shot inside the mansion.[8]

Fire and destruction

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Ruins of Bidwell Mansion after a fire on December 11, 2024
Ruins of Bidwell Mansion after a fire on December 11, 2024

In the early morning on December 11, 2024, a fire swept the mansion. It was reported that the top tower collapsed at 4:05 a.m.[9] Arson was determined as the cause of the fire.[10] The mansion had been closed for renovations since early 2024, with plans to reopen in March 2025.[11] No injuries were reported.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Rancho Chico And Bidwell Adobe". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  3. ^ "Bidwell Mansion". NPGallery, Digital Asset Management System.
  4. ^ "Chico's historic Bidwell Mansion destroyed in early-morning fire". KRCR. December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Chico: A 20th Century Pictorial History
  6. ^ Brown, Steve (April 23, 2007). "But This is Chico: Bidwell Mansion as a rooming house for women". Chico Enterprise-Record. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  7. ^ Sadek, Muna (November 14, 2024). "Historic Bidwell Mansion's $2.3 million upgrade now set to finish in March". KRCR. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  8. ^ Padilla, Cecilio (December 11, 2024). "California's historic Bidwell Mansion in Chico destroyed by fire; Victorian home was "Thin Man" film location". CBS Sacramento. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  9. ^ Saam, Kelli (December 11, 2024). "Chico's Bidwell Mansion destroyed in early-morning fire Wednesday". Action News Now. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Hutchison, Jake (December 17, 2024). "Bidwell Mansion fire was arson, State Parks says". Enterprise-Record. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  11. ^ LaFever, Matt (December 11, 2024). "Fire destroys Northern California's Bidwell Mansion, icon of Chico history". SFGATE. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  12. ^ LaFever, Matt (December 11, 2024). "Fire destroys Northern California's Bidwell Mansion, icon of Chico history". SFGATE. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
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