Schulmuseum Thurgau

About the museum

The Schulmuseum Thurgau is located in the Mühlebach schoolhouse in Amriswil, which was built in 1845/46 as a pisé building of unfired rammed earth; such buildings are very rare. Teaching took place here until 1989. When the demolition, which had already been approved, was averted in 1999, the Stiftung Schulmuseum Mühlebach was established. The house was renovated in 2000 and 2001 and fitted out for museum operations; around 80 percent is still in its original condition.

The museum opened in 2002 as Switzerland’s first school museum and sees itself as a supra-regional center for school culture. It preserves, researches and communicates school history, makes its extensive collection available for scientific purposes and lends objects to schools as museum suitcases.

On the second floor is a historic classroom in the style of the 1920s, where visitors can try out slate boards, pen nibs, primers and slide rules. There are also rotating exhibitions and the series “Objekt des Monats” (Object of the Month). Outside, the house has a biodiversity learning garden, a school garden, a rammed-earth wall and a barbecue area.

Highlights

• Switzerland’s first school museum, opened in 2002
• Heritage-listed pisé schoolhouse from 1846 made of rammed earth
• Historic 1920s classroom to try out
• Museum suitcases and education modules for school classes
• Biodiversity learning garden and rammed-earth wall

Permanent exhibition

• Pisé-Schulhaus von 1846 und historisches Schulzimmer – The permanent exhibition brings school history to life: the largely original rammed-earth schoolhouse and a hands-on classroom in the style of the 1920s with Thurgau reading books from 1910 onward.

Founded

2002

Operated by

Stiftung Schulmuseum Mühlebach

Director

Sabina Braun

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Individual admission is free; the prices apply to guided tours, school programs and loan suitcases. 2026 price list of the museum.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The historic classroom can be used hands-on. School classes can book modules such as “Schule wie vor 100 Jahren” (school as it was a century ago), a history lab with experiments, and workshops in the learning garden.

Getting there & parking

Driving time by car from St. Gallen is about 20 minutes, from Zurich about one hour.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

Museum shop with publications on site and online. Wi-Fi is listed for the seminar room and events. On request, the school kitchen provides aperitifs, teatime, lunch, as well as coffee and Gipfeli (small crescent pastries).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 50 guests.

Seminar room (seminar seating up to 48, concert seating up to 60 people), historic classroom, aperitif and preparation room, workshop room and outdoor area with barbecue; seminar room half day CHF 180, full day CHF 280; the whole schoolhouse on request.

Plan your visit