Oroville in Butte County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Bidwell's Bar

1853 – 1856

Bidwell Bar Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, November 15, 2012

1. Bidwell Bar Marker

Inscription.
Erected by Argonaut Parlor No. 8 Native Sons of the Golden West and Butte County Board of Supervisors, to designate the site of the second county seat of Butte County - Bidwell's Bar 1853 – 1856.
Site of the Court House was 120 yds. west of this point. Marked by small monument.

(Second, smaller marker placed below:)
Original site of this monument one mile north-east, rededicated June 6, 1981 by Argonaut Parlor No. 8 Native Sons of the Golden West.

Erected 1918 by Native Sons of the Golden West Agronaut Parlor No. 8. (Marker Number 330.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 1856.

Location. 39° 32.255′ N, 121° 27.29′ W. Marker is in Oroville, California, in Butte County. Marker is on Bidwell Canyon Road. This marker is located in the parking lot of the Bidwell Bar Boat Launch at the end of Bidwell Canyon Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oroville CA 95966, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Mother Orange Tree of Butte County (here, next to this marker); Bidwell Bar Bridge and Tollhouse

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(a few steps from this marker); Autumn Harvest (approx. 0.6 miles away); Oroville Dam (approx. 2 miles away); a different marker also named Mother Orange Tree of Butte County (approx. 3.2 miles away); Northern California's Oldest Citrus Tree (approx. 3.2 miles away); Long's Bar (approx. 3.7 miles away); Morris Ravine School (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oroville.

More about this marker. This marker has been relocated from its original placement at Bidwell Bar which has been inundated by Lake Oroville.

Although dated 1917, the Grizzly Bear magazine indicates that the monument was erected, at best, in December of that year. Page 5 of the December 1917 edition only mentions that the correct dates had been determined. Completion was not recorded until March 1918 (p5) and the June 1918 edition (p17) records the dedication date as May 5, 1918.

Regarding Bidwell's Bar. In 1938 this was designated California Historical Landmark No. 330 - Bidwell’s Bar.

Also see . . .

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, November 15, 2012

2. Bidwell Bar Marker

Bidwell Bar Bridge Toll House in background.

History of Bidwell - Bidwell The Town. In 1848, John Bidwell discovered gold at a site on the Middle Fork of the Feather RIver that became known as Bidwell's Bar. When word reached the eastern United States and the world that gold had been discovered in California, this location in northern California became one of the primary destinations for the gold seekers. (Submitted on December 5, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Site of Bidwell Bar image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, November 15, 2012

3. Site of Bidwell Bar

Article About Dedication image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James King

4. Article About Dedication

Grizzly Bear, June 1918, p17

Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 808 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on December 22, 2016, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 5, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on July 12, 2016, by James King of San Miguel, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.