Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
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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;<ref name=CHL>Template:Cite ohp</ref> and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the name "Bidwell Mansion" on March 24, 1972.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On December 11, 2024, the building was destroyed by arson.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Guardian">Template:Cite news</ref>
History
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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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.Template:Citation needed
From 1925 to 1935, Bidwell Mansion served as a dormitory for Chico State Teachers College female students.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The mansion was later dubbed "Bidwell Hall" and housed the art and home economics departments.
The state of California acquired the site in 1964.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Some of the interior scenes from the film The Thin Man (1934) were shot inside the mansion.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Fire and destruction
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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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Arson was determined as the cause of the fire.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Guardian" /> The mansion had been closed for renovations since early 2024, with plans to reopen in March 2025.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> No injuries were reported.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On March 5, 2025, thirty-year-old Chico man Kevin Carlson was sentenced to 11 years in state prison for intentionally starting the fire.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Butte County, California
- Bidwell Park
- Michael Gillis
References
External links
Template:National Register of Historic Places in California
Template:Protected areas of California Template:Authority control
- 1972 establishments in California
- Buildings and structures in Chico, California
- California Historical Landmarks
- California State Historic Parks
- Historic house museums in California
- Houses in Butte County, California
- Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in California
- Historic American Buildings Survey in California
- Italianate architecture in California
- Museums in Butte County, California
- Parks in Butte County, California
- Protected areas established in 1972
- Victorian architecture in California
- Tourist attractions in Chico, California
- Villas in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places in Butte County, California
- Arson in 2024
- Buildings and structures in the United States destroyed by arson