William B. Ide Adobe

William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park Our Mission The mission of the California Department of Parks and Recreation is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Escape back in time and experience the sights and sounds of the California frontier at an 1852 adobe California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (530) 529-8599. This publication is available in alternate formats by contacting: CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P. O.many Box 942896 Discover the states of California.™ Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 Discover the manyoutside states the of California.™ (916) 653-6995, U.S. 711, TTY relay service Discover the many states of California.™ www.parks.ca.gov Discover the many states of California.™ William B. Ide Adobe SHP 21659 Adobe Road Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530) 529-8599 © 2008 California State Parks Printed on Recycled Paper homestead overlooking the banks of the peaceful Sacramento River. A t the northern end of Settlers The first non-native the Sacramento Valley, settlers arrived in the flanked by the Cascade northern Sacramento Mountains on the east Valley in the 1840s. and the Coast Range on Two Mexican land the west, William B. Ide grants downriver Adobe State Historic Park from this area were stands as a memorial awarded to Peter to one of the leading Lassen and Josiah participants in the Bear Cottonwood Trail along the Sacramento River Belden, who later sold Flag Revolt. The park, out to Massachusetts native William B. Ide. nestled along the banks of the Sacramento River 100 miles north of Sacramento, is a William B. Ide and the Bear Flag Revolt symphony of wildlife sounds and gentle With very little formal education, and winds rustling through aged oaks. You can trained as a carpenter, William B. Ide (1796enjoy a picnic by the river, saunter through 1852) followed the frontier as it gradually the historic homestead or attend an exciting moved westward. He and his family joined living history event. a wagon train headed for Alta California, still PARK HISTORY Native People When California was part of Mexico in 1821, explorer Luis Arguello led the first recorded expedition up the Sacramento River. The first people his party encountered were the Wintuan-speaking Nomlaki. Arguello’s diary describes Nomlaki villages where men hunted with sinew-backed bows and obsidian arrows, building weirs and using harpoons for river fishing. The Nomlaki women wove exquisite baskets, using the three-rod coil and twined methods. In 1883 later explorers unwittingly brought a malaria epidemic, decimating the native population. Though the explorers later took over Nomlaki lands, Nomlaki descendants still live in Northern California today. a province of Mexico. They arrived at John A. Sutter’s fort on October 25, 1845, then traveled north to this area. During that winter, a rumor spread that the Mexican government planned to evict illegal American settlers. In June of 1846, the settlers heard what proved to be a false rumor—a Mexican military force was on its way, destroying crops, burning houses and driving away cattle. This rallied the settlers into action, and on June 14, 1846, a group of about thirty men— including Ide—marched on the town of Sonoma. The group became known as the Bear Flaggers. Sonoma and its leading citizen, General Mariano G. Vallejo, were taken without incident. The Bear Flaggers, lacking leadership, could not agree on their next steps. They divided; some took their captives to Sutter’s fort. Those remaining in Sonoma selected Ide as their commander. Ide drafted a proclamation declaring the newly formed “California Republic.” Though the California Republic lasted only 25 days before Navy Commodore John D. Sloat raised the American flag at Monterey, this important chapter of California history is still known as the “Bear Flag Revolt.” Bluffton Ranch Like William B. Ide, the pioneer owners of the property originally called Bluffton Ranch arrived in California with visions of opportunity. Faced with challenges, they used their location near the CaliforniaOregon Road and the Sacramento River to form communication and transportation connections to the outside world. Pack trains, horsemen, miners on foot, ox teams, covered wagons and stagecoaches moved up and down the valley, and steamboats moved along the river. In 1862 a ferry crossing was built on the property. The park today reflects the hard work of those pioneers who lived in mid-19th-century California. Sacramento River ferry operator, late 1800s The Adobe Becomes observers may glimpse a State Park majestic bald eagles. The adobe was built The river supports four in 1852 by A. M. runs of Chinook salmon, Dibble. By 1949 it including the endangered had changed hands winter run. More abundant at least 20 times. The species are the Pacific longest ownership lamprey, steelhead, rainbow was from 1882 to 1913, The Mount family, 1898 trout, minnows, sturgeon when the adobe was and various catfish. the property of two members of the pioneer The vegetation along the river is a ruggedly Mount family—A. Mount and Willette Mount. beautiful blend of valley oak, California At one point, original ownership of the sycamore, blue elderberry, California rose adobe was mistakenly ascribed to William and coyote bush. Fremont cottonwoods, B. Ide, who had owned land downriver. willows and box elders grace the riverbanks Subsequently, a movement sprang up to as well. make the site a state park in the 1940s. Temperatures The state acquired the land, and the park Temperatures here range from the high 90s was dedicated in 1960, honoring Ide’s in the summer to low 40s in late fall and contribution to California history. The winter. Wearing layered clothing year round restored adobe is the only example of an is recommended. original Gold Rush-era adobe in the north valley. PARK INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS NATURAL RESOURCES Animals and Plants The riparian forest along the Sacramento River and the adjacent oak woodland provide perfect habitat for a variety of wildlife. Beavers and river otters busy themselves in the water while black-tailed deer keep to the shadows. Bird-watchers may spot nearly 200 bird species, both migratory and resident, including belted kingfishers, great blue herons, wild turkeys, ospreys, Nutall’s woodpeckers and Canada geese. Some fortunate Interpretive programs take visitors back in time to experience frontier life in the mid1800s. Enjoy the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and textures of the era. Adobe Ferry Champion Horseshoe Pitchers Contest is held the second Saturday in October. “Sports history” comes alive with all participants dressed in 1850s clothing and following 1850s pitching rules. School Programs Life in the 1850s brings costumed high school docents to spend the day teaching fourth grade students skills for surviving the rigors of frontier life. Mini-Life in the 1850s has 1- to 2-hour programs, including an adobe tour and participation in several pioneer crafts. Volunteers in Parks Become a VIP! Join the Volunteers in Parks Program to offer your time and energy; have fun while supporting William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park. ACCESSIBLE FEATURES Picnic Area An accessible picnic table on a concrete pad is in the shaded picnic area. Accessible parking and restrooms are nearby. Annual Events Adobe Day is held the third Saturday in August. Activities include Gold Rushera music, pioneer crafts, home-baked refreshments, and period dancing. Pioneer Christmas Party, held the third Saturday in December, recreates the earliest Christmas celebrations of the North Valley. Visitors may enjoy hot wassail and create old-time crafts. Volunteers interpret pioneer California life. Exhibits/Programs A concrete walkway from the parking lot leads to an accessible visitor center. From the parking lot, another concrete walkway leads to a bridge, where a dirt path takes you to the adobe. The adobe is accessible from the rear of the building. PLEASE REMEMBER • DANGER: The Sacramento River can have strong undercurrents as well as unseen debris and submerged logs. Always be careful in and around the water. • Dogs must be on a six-foot leash; they are allowed only in the picnic area. • The park’s natural and cultural resources are protected by state law and may not be removed or altered. • Firearms and hunting are prohibited in state parks. NEARBY STATE PARKS • Shasta State Historic Park, 15312 Hwy. 299 West, Shasta (530) 243-8194 • Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, 25340 South Avenue, Corning (530) 839-2112 • Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park, 525 Esplanade, Chico (530) 895-6144 This park receives support in part through a nonprofit association. For more information, contact the Ide Adobe Interpretive Association, 21659 Adobe Road, Red Bluff, CA 96080