Yamagata Prefectural Museum Education Resource Center (Former Yamagata Normal School Main Building/Guardhouse)

Overview

The former Yamagata Normal School Main Building, constructed in 1901 (Meiji 34), is a designated national important cultural property and a historically significant structure. A two-story wooden building, it features a unique architectural style blending Western and Japanese elements. It once played a crucial role as the institution responsible for training teachers in Yamagata Prefecture. Now serving as the Yamagata Prefectural Museum's Education Resource Center, it showcases the history and culture of education in Yamagata Prefecture. The center displays materials related to education in Yamagata Prefecture from the Edo period to the present day, including valuable documents such as textbooks, teaching materials, graduation certificates, photographs, and models. It also exhibits materials that provide insight into the classroom atmosphere and student life of that era, offering a glimpse into the education system of the time. The former Yamagata Normal School building is a precious structure that conveys the educational practices of its time and is an important site for understanding Yamagata Prefecture's history and culture. Free admission makes it easy to visit, and it's highly recommended to see it along with the Bunshokan and Seiseikan.