Historic Bidwell Mansion in Chico destroyed by fire, Californians mourn loss

The historic Bidwell Mansion in Northern California was destroyed in a fire on Wednesday morning.

The Bidwell Mansion, a California State Park, was engulfed in flames around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Chico Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations Chris Zinko told USA TODAY. The department received a report of an illegal burn at the mansion and upon its response, the full structure was involved and personnel were unable to perform an offense attack.

The Chico Fire Department, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Chico Police Department, California State University Chico Police Department, California State Parks and state investigators are looking over video footage of an individual leaving the area at the time of the fire, Zinko said.

Located in Chico, the Bidwell Mansion was a Victorian home and museum built by John Bidwell in the 1860s. A pioneer, politician and philanthropist, Bidwell lived in the mansion with his life Annie Ellicott Kennedy Bidwell.

When constructed, the mansion featured the most modern plumbing, gas lighting and water systems, according to the California State Parks website. The style of the home was Italian Villa, an informal, romantic style. The Bidwells often used the mansion for entertaining and guests who visited included President Rutherford B. Hayes, women's suffragist Susan B. Anthony, California Gov. Leland Stanford and mountaineer John Muir.

Earlier this year, the mansion closed for restorations. According to the California State Parks website, the mansion was expected to re-open by early 2025.

Californians react to loss of historic landmark

California residents, officials and organizations took to social media Wednesday morning to share their heartbreak over the loss of the Bidwell Mansion.

In a Facebook post, Chico Mayor Andrew Coolidge said the mansion not only represented the home of Chico's founder but "an iconic location to all of us."

"What is your favorite mansion memory? Mine ... getting a tour as a child led by Maggie Gisslow. Maggie was blind, but ... I didn’t realize until halfway through the tour because she knew every inch of the home," Coolidge shared.

City of Gridley Council Member Catalina Sanchez also recalled visiting the mansion during an elementary school field trip. Gridley is about 30 miles south of Chico.

"I remember being in awe that it was the tallest building I had ever seen as an elementary kid," Sanchez wrote in a Facebook post. "I’ll never forget on the infamous part of the school tour how you got to learn and experience 'that' infamous painting of John Bidwell in the entrance lobby, 'where the eyes follow you.' The tour guide would (make) us walk from one side of the room to the other to prove to you that it did."

California State University, Chico, which was the mansion's neighbor, shared in a Facebook post that a few buildings on campus would be closed on Wednesday to allow firefighters and law enforcement continue their response.

The Facebook post also shared some of the mansion's history, affiliated with the university. For a period of time, the mansion was a dormitory for the Chico State Teachers College and years later, it became known as "Bidwell Hall," housing classrooms and offices.

This story was updated to add a new video and correct information in two photo cutlines.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].