John & Annie Bidwell ~ True Pioneers

John Bidwell, founder and creator of Chico, was an adventurous young man! At the age of 22, in 1841, he led one of the first wagon trains of emigrants to California, along the California Trail. He worked for John Sutter, and ~ in 1848, after Marshall's gold discovery at Sutter's Mill ~ looked for and found gold along the Feather River, naming his mine Bidwell Bar.

He fought in the Mexican-American War, served in the California Senate, and was a member of the United States Congress. He married Annie Kennedy in 1868 and brought her to his new holdings and the home he'd built next to Chico Creek in Northern California.

Together they set out to make a difference in their world! The Bidwells exemplified Western Hospitality and entertained important visitors throughout their life together at Bidwell Mansion, but they also were extremely progressive for the time, involving themselves in horticulture, Native American issues, women's suffrage, and environmental issues. They made the donations which provided Chico with an important teaching school and one of the largest municipal parks in the United States.

Today we have the privilege of touring their lovely home, Bidwell Mansion, which is preserved as a State Historic Park. You'll learn about how they lived, their work with the Indians, the people who traversed a continent to visit them, and the contributions they made to Chico, the state of California, and the United States. Best of all, you'll see their beautiful home pretty much as it was when they were in residence!

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