“The history of California lies like a map before me. Somewhat confused it may be, but I have seen it all, and if I had been a writer, which I am not, I could have written history.” – John Bidwell, 1897

At the core of Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park is the history of John and Annie Bidwell, one of the fundamental stories of California. While the various park features have important intrinsic value, ultimately they serve as mediums through which the public can interact with this piece of their cultural heritage.

It is the combined breadth and length of their involvement in California history that makes the Bidwells such integral figures in the State’s development. Together, the Bidwells played a key role in the making of modern California, and their legacies remain to this day. John, especially, is one of those rare figures in history who influences his time and place so immensely that his story almost seems like a work of historical fiction. Annie Bidwell became an inspiration and partner in these endeavors, as well as becoming a significant historical figure in her own right. The Bidwells act as a common thread linking stories of California’s prehistory to the turn of the 20^th Century. Their story connects to so many different topics vital to the story of early California. It tells of the opening of California to the United States, the unfolding of the Gold Rush, the establishment of state government, the development of California’s agricultural empire, the fate of California’s Native Americans, and the evolution of culture and society in the region.

John and Annie Bidwell led full lives that left profound legacies throughout California. From Chico, where they called home, to San Diego, where John served in the Mexican American War, from Sutter’s Fort, which John managed, to Zayante, where Annie took part in Indian Conferences, the Bidwell’s legacies can be found across California. This history now stands as one of the cherished parts of California’s cultural heritage.