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Bidwell Mansion
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · tap to enlarge
National Register of Historic Places

Bidwell Mansion

Chico’s first place on the National RegisterListed Mar 24, 1972; only 135 of California’s 2,865 listings are older
Italian VillaListed 1972Chico
DirectionsAdd an old photo
About

About Bidwell Mansion

Bidwell Mansion, at Sowillenno Ave., was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Mar 24, 1972: the first place in Chico to be listed. Only 135 of California’s 2,865 listings are older. The Register lists it for its agriculture, education, politics and architecture, at the state level. It describes its style as Italian Villa, as it does for 8 other California listings. The listing covers 5 acres.

What it isHistoric building in Chico, California, USA. From Wikidata (CC0).

PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 48 MB · National Archives↗
Through the years

1865 to today

  1. 1865Built
  2. 1972Added to the National Register of Historic Places
  3. 2026On the Register for 54 years
Visit

Make it a walk: 5 landmarks in about 15 minutes

Sowillenno Ave., Chico · about 0.5 miles on foot, as the crow flies

DirectionsWalk the tour in Google Maps
  1. 1Bidwell MansionStart here
  2. 2St. John's Episcopal ChurchGothic Revival · 0.3 mi on
  3. 3Silberstein Park BuildingBuilt 1909 · 0.1 mi on
  4. 4US Post Office-Chico Midtown StationClassical · next door
  5. 5Stansbury HouseClassical Revival · Built 1883 · next door
Around it

4 more Register listings within 2 miles

★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.

DSouth of Campus NeighborhoodItalianate0.5 miBAllen-Sommer-Gage HouseGreek Revival0.5 miBA. H. Chapman HouseDowning Cottage · Built 18590.6 miBSouthern Pacific DepotBuilding0.7 mi

Memories of Bidwell Mansion

The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.

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Have an old photo of it?Add it · +10

Questions about Bidwell Mansion

Is Bidwell Mansion on the National Register of Historic Places?

Yes. It was added on Mar 24, 1972 (Register number 72000216).

Is Bidwell Mansion a National Historic Landmark?

No. It is on the National Register; California has 141 National Historic Landmarks.

Can you visit Bidwell Mansion?

Yes: it is open to visitors. Check opening times before you go.

Where can I read the history of Bidwell Mansion?

In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 48 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.

Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 123858422 · Wikidata. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.