Gunther

Gunther is a villager who operates the Archaeology Center in Pelican Town. He is the curator of the Museum, where players can donate artifacts and minerals they discover while exploring the valley. Unlike most villagers, Gunther does not accept friendship gifts; instead, his role is tied entirely to the museum collection, and he rewards the player as donation milestones are reached.

Gunther never leaves the museum counter, even when the Museum is closed, so he remains in place as the permanent face of the building. The first time the player enters the Museum with an artifact or mineral in inventory, a cutscene triggers in which he explains that the previous curator disappeared with the museum’s entire collection. He then asks the player to consider donating any artifacts or minerals they find, which starts the Archaeology quest to donate an item to the Museum.

As the collection grows, Gunther provides rewards for major milestones. The morning after the player donates 60 items to the Museum, he visits to thank them and gives the Rusty Key. If that day is the player’s wedding day, he arrives the following day instead. He also grants rewards as the total number of donations increases, making museum progress one of the game’s more important long-term collection goals.

Gunther can also appear in Special Orders content. In the quest “Fragments of the past,” he may randomly request 100 bone items to be delivered to the box in the Museum. Completing this order awards the Bone Mill recipe.

• Gunther is the curator of the Museum and the Archaeology Center in Pelican Town.
• He does not accept standard friendship gifts.
• Donations of artifacts and minerals are the main way to interact with him.
• He stays at the museum counter all day and does not leave when the Museum is closed.
• Entering the Museum with a qualifying item for the first time starts the Archaeology quest and the introductory cutscene.
• Donating 60 items unlocks the Rusty Key reward the next morning.
• He may request bone items through the Special Order “Fragments of the past,” which rewards the Bone Mill recipe.