WASSAMA ROUNDHOUSE STATE PARK

THE VILLAGE OF WASSAMA (LEAVES FALLING) IS THE SITE OF THE LAST ABOVE GROUND SOUTHERN MIWOK ROUNDHOUSE. BUILT IN 1903, RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES, DANCING, AND GAMBLING TOOK PLACE ON THE SITE UNTIL 1937. SOUTHERN
MIWOK DANCES INCLUDING THE 1870 GHOST DANCE, ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN PERFORMED IN THE ROUNDHOUSE. THE VILLAGE ALSO CONTAINS A CEMETARY, CREMATION SITE AND MOURNING AREA. ORIGINALLY THE MIWOK PRACTICED CREMATION, BUT THIS WAS LATER DISCOURAGED BY SPANISH PADRES AND GROUND BURIAL WAS ENCOURAGED.

DEDICATED OCTOBER 11, 1986 BY E CLAMPUS VITUS
GRUB GULCH CHAPTER 41-49

THIS PLAQUE RECOGNIZES ONE OF THE LAST EXISTING SWEAT LODGES STILL BEING USED TODAY BY THE LOCAL INDIANS.


On Round House Road approx. 1/2 mile from the State Monument

GPS Locator:
N37° 22.448'
W119° 43.358'