7/9/2005
7/9/2005
12/30/2006
Landmark information
- Location:
San Jose State University, located on Tower Hall in Washington Square, NE corner of San Carlos and 4th Sts, San Jose - Plaque:
Official State Plaque - Site:
Existing - Date First Visited:
7/12/1995 - Date Most Recently Visited:
12/30/2006 - GPS Coordinates:
N 37 20.109, W 121 53.011
About this landmark
Plaque text:
First Normal School
Founded as "Minns' Evening Normal School" in 1857, the school became the state Normal School by act of the state legislature on May 2, 1862. In 1870 the state legislature chose Washington Square as a permanent location. Destroyed by fire on February 11, 1880 and heavily damaged by the April 18, 1906 earthquake, the school was rebuilt after each disaster to remain California's first public institution of higher learning.