Chico Cemetery

Chico Cemetery was established in 1852 with the first recorded burial of Amos Fry, an associate of city founder John Bidwell. Much of the original land was donated by Bidwell. The cemetery originally operated as the Chico Cemetery Association and was acquired by the Brusie family in 1994. The property is recognized on the City of Chico Historic Resources Inventory as a landmark contributing to the architectural and cultural character of the Avenues community. Notable interments include John Bidwell and Annie Bidwell, founders of Chico; Major Ted W. Lawson, a decorated pilot from the 1942 Doolittle Raid; and Ira Weatherly, one of three prospectors who discovered the Dogtown Nugget in 1859, the largest gold nugget ever found in California at 54 pounds.