Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park in California, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-27. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park in Chico, California, currently welcomes visitors to its visitor center, while the fire-damaged mansion remains closed. California State Parks manages the site. Plan for exhibits about John and Annie Bidwell and the region’s history, rather than an interior house tour.

Highlights

The reopened exhibit hall presents early California agriculture, Chico’s founding, and the origins of California State University, Chico. The visit also offers a way to learn about the park’s recovery after the mansion fire.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety information

The mansion closure is a firm limit on the visit: use the reopened visitor center and respect closed areas. During Red Flag restrictions, the district bans tiki torches and campfires until staff lift those restrictions.

Visit responsibly

Dogs are not allowed. The park also prohibits possession or use of metal detectors and other geophysical discovery devices to locate or recover subsurface resources. Leave historic material in place.

Maps, location, and access

The park address is 525 Esplanade, Chico, California 95926, at Esplanade and Memorial Way. From Highway 99, take East First Avenue west and turn left onto Esplanade; the park is on the right. Aim your arrival at the visitor center’s limited weekly opening hours.

Nearby parks

Bidwell Park is a separate municipal park within Chico, with city-managed trails and picnic areas; check city gate and trail notices for the part you choose. Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park is west of Chico, reached by West Sacramento Avenue and River Road, and is day-use only. The historic mansion park and river park have separate entrances and purposes.

Things to do

Explore the visitor center exhibits and gift shop, then consider the reopening announcement’s description of the exhibits and recovery initiative. Interpretation includes the Bidwells’ relationships with surrounding communities. The gift shop, run by Bidwell Mansion Association, supports educational programs.

Facilities and accessibility

The visitor center is designated accessible and includes restrooms and a drinking fountain, as well as the exhibit hall and museum store. Contact staff about any particular accommodation before arrival; the mansion’s former tour route is closed.

About the historic park

This is a historic-site visit centered on the Bidwells and Chico’s development. Recovery planning is part of the present-day context, and the visitor center survived the fire that damaged the mansion.

History

The mansion was completed in 1868. California State Parks acquired it in 1964. The historic park brochure explains the family and building history; use its historical account alongside current access notices.

Contact

Check Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park’s current restrictions before travel. Park telephone: 530-895-6144. The mailing and visitor address is 525 Esplanade, Chico, CA 95926.