“Why is it located on the edge of the city like this?” you might wonder as you approach the Funabashi City Historical Museum. This museum is more than just a building. It is a gateway to understanding Funabashi’s rich past.
The Funabashi City Historical Museum reopened in January 2019 after renovations. Its concept is fostering love for Furusato Funabashi. Furusato means hometown. It is a place that evokes warm feelings of nostalgia.
Inside the Funabashi City Historical Museum, you will find artifacts. These artifacts stimulate nostalgia. They also offer new discoveries for visitors of all ages. The museum uses videos and other display techniques. These help you rediscover the appeal of Funabashi.
Let’s journey through Funabashi’s history together. As you enter the No. 1 Display Room, you’ll see a video guidance section. Videos on the walls and floor preview the display room. It is like a time slip gate. Glance at pictures going back from the present to the primitive era.
You can explore primitive times. See clay figures and stone tools. Earthenware vessels are also on display. Discover ancient times with funerary goods. These were excavated from burial mounds in the city. The displays give you a glimpse of the people who lived in Funabashi since ancient times.
The Asuka Period to the early modern period are represented. Valuable documents and clay tools are displayed. See the Zuika Soho Goka mirror. It is a tangible cultural asset. It was excavated from a site in Funabashi. Also see an Itabi stone tablet.
The Industry section has actual tools used in Funabashi. The Modern Era section has diaries and anthologies. They explain Funabashi in older times. There are also pamphlets from the Funabashi Health Center.
The Funabashi City Historical Museum tells Funabashi’s story. It uses three essential themes. These are Funabashi and Horses, Development of a City, and Development of a Railway Network. Artifacts for each theme are on display.
The horse model stands out. It was reconstructed from bones unearthed in the city. Horses have been bred in Funabashi since long ago. The Shogunate had a ranch under its direct control during the Edo period. Funabashi had a base for a regiment of horses until 1942. Today, it has two racetracks.
The Development of a City section displays a diorama. Students from Takane Elementary School created it. It gives a strong sense of the landscape in the 1980s. The Development of a Railway Network section shows changes in the railway network.
Before you leave the Funabashi City Historical Museum, consider the words of the museum’s pamphlet. Relax. Look at the whole picture. Compare materials from different times and regions. Think not only about points but also homogeneous points. This museum is not just a collection of artifacts. It is a place to learn, reflect, and appreciate the history of Funabashi.