Ellensburg, Washington: Statue of the Sign Language Chimp
Washoe the chimpanzee lived in Ellensburg from 1980 until her death in 2007. She was the first nonhuman animal to use human sign language.
- Address:
- 111 E. 5th Ave., Ellensburg, WA
- Directions:
- Downtown. In a tiny park just west of the Liberty Theatre. On the north side of E. 5th Ave. between Pearl and Pine Sts.
- Admission:
- Free
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Washoe lived in Ellensburg with four other chimpanzees. She and the other chimps learned sign language to communicate with humans and with each other. Washoe was the first chimp to teach sign language to another chimp. She passed away in 2007. In this sculpture, she is signing the word "friend."
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