Category Archives: Uncategorized

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Bidwell Mansion. BMA elves were busy decorating last week with new old-fashioned holiday decor. December is a wonderful time to visit the Mansion, and a great place to take your out-of-town … Continue reading →

John Bartleson took a look around California, decided it wasn’t for him, and left the next year to return to Missouri. Joseph Chiles took a look around California, and decided it was for him, and also returned the next year … Continue reading →

So now we have gotten John Bidwell to California in November of 1841. On the 1st they arrived on the Central Valley floor, where they found an abundance of game–good eating at last!–and by November 4th the company was at … Continue reading →

From John Bidwell’s trail journal: November. Monday, 1st. The Company tarried to kill game; an abundance of wild fowl and 13 deer and antelopes were brought in. My breakfast, this morning, formed a striking contrast with that of yesterday which … Continue reading →

From John Bidwell’s trail journal: Friday, 29th. Last night, the Indians stole a couple of our horses. About noon we passed along by several huts, but they were deserted as soon as we come in sight, the Indians running in … Continue reading →

From John Bidwell’s trail journal: Thursday, 28th. Surely no horses nor mules with less experience than ours could have descended the difficult steeps and defiles which we encountered in this day’s journey. Even as it was, several horses and mules … Continue reading →

“Monday, 25th. Went about 6 miles and found it impossible to proceed. Went back about 2 miles and encamped — dug holes in the ground to deposit such things as we could dispense with. Did not do it, discovering the … Continue reading →

It was getting late in October, the Bidwell-Bartleson Party had run out of food, and they were still making their way down the canyons of the western side of the Sierra Nevada. On October 23, 1841, John Bidwell set off … Continue reading →

One of my favorite sources for information on John Bidwell is his 1897 address to the Society of California Pioneers. The Society was limited to those who had come to California before the end of 1849. Plenty of 49er’s joined, … Continue reading →

The Bidwell-Bartleson Party climbed up narrow canyons on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, following streams and seeking grass for their mounts. Some were on horses or mules, others were on foot. On October 18th they crested the mountains, … Continue reading →