Fukuromachi Elementary School Peace Museum
About Fukuromachi Elementary School Peace Museum
History museum housed in an elementary school nearby to the atomic bombing, used as a refuge and relief station.
Situated less than 500m from ground zero of the atomic bombing, the Fukuromachi Elementary School suffered major damage. Although many students and teachers were evacuated at the time, over 100 were still in the school at the time of the explosion.
Almost all of the wooden structures were destroyed in the blast, however the west wing - constructed of reinforced concrete - remained. This became a local refuge and relief station, and became a place to share information about the safety of local residents, students and staff.
Many messages were left on the burned walls in chalk, discovered many years later and subsequently preserved. The museum features artefacts from the school, some of which were distorted from the blast. A multi-lingual informational video plays in the basement, and the museum also exhibits personal testimonials from the times.