Chico would not be Chico without John Bidwell (1819-1900), an American pioneer and agriculturist, and so much more. He was instrumental in the settlement of California and remained active in its politics for half a century.

Annie and John's home is a California State Park, and touring it gave us a glimpse into this historical icon we knew little about. This man did it all and did it successfully. When he decided to seek his fortune, he found himself in the Mexican province of California. Bidwell worked for John Sutter (the gold rush guy) for 3 years before being naturalized and receiving a land grant, Rancho Chico, of 22,000 acres. Bidwell was early active in politics, and during the Bear Flag Revolt he served on the committee that drafted a declaration of independence from Mexico.
Yet, for every fact remembered about Bidwell, another likely has been forgotten. Interestingly, Bidwell was a huge Bermuda grass booster and the father of the California casaba melon. And he played a role in one of the country's earliest battles to protect the environment. There is so much more I would like to know about him.

Bidwell fell in love with Annie Ellicott Kennedy, the daughter of a socially prominent, high ranking Washington official, who was deeply religious, and committed to a number of moral and social causes. Annie was very active in the suffrage and prohibition movements, thus changing Bidwell completely. I thought this book, on their shelf was an interesting title.
This is the original toilet from the guest room floor. Upon arrival in Chico, the Bidwell's used their Mansion extensively for entertainment of friends. Some of the guests that visited were President Rutherford B. Hayes, General William T. Sherman, Susan B. Anthony, Frances Willard, Governor Stanford, John Muir, and Asa Gray. Yes, I actually saw where all these famous people "did their business". Wild thought!

According to the first book, in 50 years, about John Bidwell, John Bidwell's California: Observations and Reflections of a Pioneer, 1841-1900, "Rarely, under close scrutiny, do the lives of prominent pioneers match the myths painstakingly constructed around them. At the start of the project, the authors expected Bidwell, too, to tumble from his pedestal. In fact, he measures up to his outsized image surprisingly well. Though their research puts a few dents in the Bidwell armor, he still emerges as a remarkable figure, a man guided by strict moral principles who was ahead of his time in many ways." And while we barely scratched the surface of this man, we were intrigued and delighted about what we did learn. I so love a good history lesson.