Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
California State Parks
Chico, California

San Francisco architect Henry W. Cleveland designed the mansion for John Bidwell, California pioneer, politician, agriculturalist, and philanthropist. Constructed during 1865–1868, the Bidwell’s lived in the mansion until their deaths, at which time the building was turned over to the Presbyterian Church and eventually sold to the Chico State Teachers’ College, later known as the California State University at Chico. The building served as offices, a girls’ dormitory, classrooms, and finally became a house museum under California State Parks.

ARG conducted an interior paint analysis and prepared a report on the mansion. The paint analysis provides interior historic paint chromachronologies and recommends historic painting schemes for the mansion’s interior spaces. ARG reviewed all historic information, conducted a site investigation to review alterations or changes, and conducted paint analysis on all architectural elements in the reviewed spaces.

For more information on the Bidwell Mansion, visit www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=460.