Author Archives: nancyleek

“Hastening up the valley, we struck the trail of the Oregon company, on what is now known as Chico Creek, Rancho Chico, and to me one of the loveliest of places. The plains were covered with scattered groves of spreading … Continue reading →

Bidwell kept on wondering if there might be gold in the California hills. In 1845, while acting as Sutter’s manager, he went looking again. Years later he related the following: “In July, 1845 I went into the Sierra Nevadas ostensibly … Continue reading →

Throughout the 1840’s John Bidwell occasionally looked for gold in California, although he doesn’t seem to have put much effort into the project. During the Micheltorena War of 1845 he checked out a gold mine in the San Fernando Hills. … Continue reading →

Would you like to know more about the history of Bidwell Mansion?  David Nopel and David Veith have written a wonderful article about the changing fortunes of this icon of Chico history in the Chico News & Review. Check it … Continue reading →

Today marks the 162nd anniversary of the discovery of gold in California by James Marshall, an incident which touched off the California Gold Rush and changed the course of history. John Bidwell was intimately involved in the discovery of gold. … Continue reading →

Please join the members of the Bidwell Mansion Association for our Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 29, 2012, at the Bidwell Mansion Visitor Center.  This is a free event, and if you are not already a member of the BMA, … Continue reading →

Charles Nordhoff toured California in the early 1870’s. In a previous post I quoted from his description of Rancho Chico, an establishment which he greatly admired. He also quoted General Bidwell on life at Rancho Chico in the 1850’s. “General … Continue reading →