Washoe and her family, the world-famous chimpanzees who spent most of their lives at CWU, have now left their mark on CWU history not just in primatology, but in a very literal sense. A new monument was officially unveiled this past Friday commemorating the great ape and her contributions to the legacy of CWU.
The university spent the day in celebration, hosting a variety of events dedicated to the ape and drawing in alumni and retired professors from across the country. Starting with a panel, speakers, including Washoe’s previous caretakers, joined in the celebration and community surrounding the late ape, sharing stories and videos of her time at Central.
Following the panel a museum dedicated to the apes of CWU was opened to the guests. It featured a stained glass window that used to reside in the The Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI), where current day Dugmore Hall stands.
Just outside Dugmore Hall is the new monument, five stone pillars representing Washoe and her family. The unveiling of the statue kicked off with a speech from President Wohlpart.
“Today, we pause to remember the great gifts that Washoe and her family gave us since their arrival in 1980,” Wohlpart said in his speech. “These beings showed us that we are connected in ways that we don’t even fully understand today. By working closely with the Fouts, Washoe became the first animal to both learn and teach a human language she knew and used over 350 signs. I guarantee you, she knew a whole lot more than that.”
Following Wohlpart a few other speakers took the stage, highlighting how important Washoe was to the school and the development of the world’s understanding of primatology as a whole. Notably however, Washoe’s previous caretakers, who were both professors at CWU, spoke about what this monument meant to them.
“It’s remarkable that Washoe did choose us, and she was a remarkable individual,” Roger Fouts, one of Washoe’s previous caretakers, said. “Sometimes when I think what role she might have had if the Air Force left her in Africa. What she would have offered to her community and her children where she belonged, but they didn’t allow her to, and so her unwilling sacrifice does have something good that comes out of it. But there’s also that part of the loss when you realize she was remarkable.”
After the commemoration ended the celebration took its final shape in the form of a party hosted at President Wohlparts house. The event featured live music, food and an opportunity to mingle with some of CWU’s most distinguished alumni. And with that, Washoe’s day of celebration at CWU came to an end, but her legacy lives on through the impact she made on Central’s campus all those years ago.
