Historical Marker · No. 1001
Chaw Sé Roundhouse
Pine Grove, Amador County · California
Erected by the State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Sierra Native American Council and the Chaw Sé Association, 1994
Every other landmark in this county commemorates something that stopped. This one is in use. The hun'ge, the roundhouse, was built in 1974, sixty feet across, its door facing east towards the rising sun and four oaks carrying the roof, and ceremonies are held in it several times a year, at Chaw'se Day in May and Big Time in September. Chaw'se is the Miwok word for the grinding rock in the meadow below, which the state cast on the bronze as Chaw Se.
What the plaque says
CHAW SÉ ROUNDHOUSE IN A VILLAGE, THE ROUNDHOUSE SERVED AS THE CENTER OF CEREMONIAL AND SOCIAL LIFE. CONSTRUCTED IN 1974, THE CHAW SÉ ROUNDHOUSE CONTINUES THIS TRADITION. WITH ITS DOOR FACING THE EAST, TOWARDS THE RISING SUN, FOUR LARGE OAKS ARE THE FOCAL POINT OF THIS SIXTY FOOT IN DIAMETER STRUCTURE. TODAY, CEREMONIAL ROUNDHOUSES ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ARCHITECTURAL MANIFESTATION OF THE CONTINUING MIWOK SPIRITUAL HERITAGE. CALIFORNIA REGISTERED HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. 1001, AN ELEMENT OF THE THEMATIC DESIGNATION, CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN CEREMONIAL ROUNDHOUSES. PLAQUE PLACED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN COOPERATION WITH THE SIERRA NATIVE AMERICAN COUNCIL AND THE CHAW SÉ ASSOCIATION, OCTOBER 14, 1994.
Where it stands
38.42482, -120.64124 · Directions
More markers nearby
- Volcano — 1.3 mi
- Astronomical Observatory — 1.4 mi
- Irishtown — 3.1 mi
- Clinton — 3.7 mi