Significance of Museum-watgurwa

“Ishi’s ‘museum-watgurwa’ is the Museum of Anthropology of the University of California; it was then situated on Parnassus Heights in San Francisco, next to the Medical School” (Author’s Notes). Following Ishi’s encounter with the saldu and his friendship with Alfred Kroeber, the curator of the museum, Ishi goes from the wilderness to live in a room at the museum-watgurwa. There, he shared his stories and tool making techniques with the staff at the museum and visitors. He dies there in March, 1916.