William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park |
|
|---|---|
Front of the adobe in 2011
|
|
| Nearest city | Red Bluff, California |
| Governing body | State of California |
| Reference #: | 12 |
William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park is a special park in California. It is located on the west side of the Sacramento River. You can find it about a mile north of Red Bluff in Tehama County, California.
This park was named after William B. Ide. People once thought he built the old adobe building there. However, later research showed he never lived in the adobe that now carries his name. Even so, the State of California decided to keep the park's name. This was done to honor Ide's important role in California's history.
Contents
Who Was William B. Ide?
This park honors William Brown Ide. He was an important pioneer in California. A pioneer is someone who is among the first to explore or settle a new area.
Ide was a captain during the Bear Flag Revolt. This was a short rebellion in 1846. He was also the only president of the California Republic. This republic was a very short-lived country. It existed from June 14 to July 9, 1846.
The Adobe Building's History
The main adobe building at the park was built in 1852. An early settler named A. M. Dibble built it. An adobe is a type of building material. It is made from earth and organic materials.
Many different people owned the property over the years. About 20 different owners had it until 1942. A. Mount and Willette Mount owned it the longest. They had it from 1882 to 1913.
William B. Ide was mistakenly thought to be one of the owners. But he never owned the property or lived in the adobe. Mr. Ide actually owned land further down the river. In the 1940s, people decided to make the adobe site a state park. The State of California bought the land in the 1950s. The park officially opened in 1960. It was named after William B. Ide to remember his contributions to California's past.
What You Can See and Do at the Park
The park has a restored adobe building. This building now holds a museum. There is also a recreated 1850s homestead. A homestead is a farm or house with land.
You can see replicas of buildings from that time. These include a typical schoolhouse, a wood shop, and a blacksmith shop. There is also a small visitor center. A nice picnic area overlooks the Sacramento River.
The park hosts several special events each year:
- The Ide's Ferry Championship Horseshoe Pitchers Contest in June.
- Adobe Day in September.
- A Pioneer Christmas Party in December.
School groups can also visit the museum. They can take part in programs like "Life in the 1850s." This is an all-day program. There is also "Mini-Life in the 1850s," which lasts one to two hours.
The "Volunteers in Parks" program encourages visitors to help out at the park. Other programs include demonstrations of pioneer crafts. You can also enjoy period parties. The Ide Adobe Players, a Gold Rush-era band, perform there. "Gold Rush Gambling" lets visitors play games common during that time. These games include faro, monte, and shut the box.
Gallery
-
Interior view of the visitor center
-
Sign explaining that William B. Ide never lived here
-
Replica of a wood shop / schoolhouse (left) and blacksmith shop (right); in the front the stump of a valley oak taken down in 2016
-
Interior of the adobe
More to Explore
