Chico was laid out by John Bidwell in 1860, on land where the Mechoopda people had long lived. This section has 8 pages and 48 dated timeline entries, from Bidwell Mansion and Chico State to Oroville’s Chinese Temple, Oroville Dam and the rebuilding of Paradise, each checked against primary sources.
- 1860Bidwell lays out Chico
- 1868Bidwell Mansion completed
- 1887Land given for Chico State
- 1905Annie Bidwell gives Bidwell Park
The Short Version
Bidwell Mansion is the heart of the story, but it has been closed since a December 2024 fire; the visitor center next door is open Fridays and Saturdays. Start with the mansion page, then use the timeline to see how Chico, Oroville and Paradise fit together.
Start With Bidwell Mansion
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Flagship
Bidwell Mansion: Where Chico Began
The 1868 house, John and Annie Bidwell, the 2024 fire and what you can visit now. Includes the Mechoopda story from the Tribe’s own history.
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48 Dates
Chico History Timeline
Around 50 dated moments from the Mechoopda village to the Reimagine Bidwell Mansion plan.
Chico History in Five Eras
Before 1848. The Mechoopda village stood on Little Butte Creek south of today’s downtown. In 1845 the Mexican government granted Rancho Arroyo Chico, which John Bidwell bought in 1849 (see the dates).
1848 to 1867. Gold on the Feather River paid for Bidwell’s rancho. He laid out Chico in 1860. In Oroville a Chinese community built a temple, and in the hills Dogtown gave up a 54-pound nugget.
1868 to 1918. John and Annie Bidwell married in 1868 and moved into the new mansion. The Normal School opened on his orchard in 1889, and Annie gave Bidwell Park in 1905.
1919 to 1971. The college grew and bought the mansion, Hollywood filmed Robin Hood in the park in 1937, State Parks took over the mansion in 1964 and Oroville Dam was finished in 1967.
1972 to today. Chico State became a university, Paradise became a town, the Mechoopda regained federal recognition in 1992, and the region is rebuilding after the 2018 Camp Fire and the 2024 mansion fire.
History Pages
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Chico State: From Normal School to University
Eight acres of cherry orchard in 1887, 90 students in 1889.
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Bidwell Park History and the Robin Hood Story
Annie Bidwell's 1905 gift and the 1937 Hollywood shoot by Big Chico Creek.
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Oroville Gold Rush and the Chinese Temple
Bidwell Bar gold and the temple on Broderick Street, with today's hours.
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Oroville Dam and Lake Oroville History
The tallest dam in the country, finished in 1967 on the Feather River.
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Paradise and The Ridge: History and Rebuilding
Dogtown gold, the town's name and how Paradise is rebuilding after 2018.
Places You Can Visit
| Place | Open | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bidwell Mansion SHP visitor center, Chico | Fridays and Saturdays, 10 AM to 3 PM (mansion closed) | No fee to visit; parking $10 per vehicle | State Parks; release |
| Oroville Chinese Temple | Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., February-December | $4 adults, $3 seniors, under 12 free (cash) | City of Oroville |
| Lake Oroville State Recreation Area | Day use 8 a.m. to sunset | $8 vehicle day use | State Parks |
| Bidwell Park, Chico | Not confirmed Hours not listed on the city page we read | Not confirmed Not listed on the city page we read | City of Chico |
Chico Legends
Robin Hood in Bidwell Park, an emperor’s gift to Oroville and the tired mill crew who named Paradise: seven local stories, each checked. Guess which ones are true.
Questions People Ask
Who Founded Chico?
John Bidwell helped lay out the town in 1860 and named it, according to the State Parks brochure. The Mechoopda people lived on the land long before.
Can You Tour Bidwell Mansion?
Not right now. The mansion has been closed since the December 11, 2024 fire; the visitor center and exhibit hall are open Fridays and Saturdays, 10 AM to 3 PM (State Parks).
What Is The Oldest Building in This Guide?
Of the places here, Bidwell Mansion (1868) and Oroville’s Chinese Temple (1863 by the state’s record, 1873 by the city’s) are the oldest. We have not compared every building in the area.
Where Can I Learn Mechoopda History?
From the Tribe’s own history pages at mechoopda-nsn.gov. Our mansion page summarizes them.
Was Robin Hood Filmed in Chico?
Yes, in Bidwell Park in the fall of 1937, per the AFI Catalog. The film came out in 1938.
Still Unconfirmed
- Not confirmed When Bidwell Mansion will reopen.
- Not confirmed Opening hours for the Kelly Ridge Visitor Center at Lake Oroville.
- Not confirmed Other details listed as Not confirmed on each history page.
Looking for something to do this week? See Chico events.
Sources
- California State Parks, Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park page, read October 29, 2026.
- California State Parks, Bidwell Mansion SHP park brochure (2009, PDF), read October 29, 2026.
- California State Parks news release, July 31, 2026 (visitor center reopens), read October 29, 2026.
- Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, History, read October 29, 2026.
- California State University, Chico, Our History, read October 29, 2026.
- City of Chico, About Bidwell Park, read October 29, 2026.
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films, The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), read October 29, 2026.
- California Office of Historic Preservation, California Historical Landmark No. 770, Chinese Temple, read October 29, 2026.
- City of Oroville, City Museums, read October 29, 2026.
- California State Parks, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area page, read October 29, 2026.
- Town of Paradise, Community (town history), read October 29, 2026.
Cite this page: It's Chico, “Chico History and Heritage”, itschico.com/history/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.