From Normal School to Now: A Walk Through History

On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Montclair State University Archivist Paul Martinez took a group of students, faculty, and staff on a 45-minute historic stroll through the south side of campus. Along the way, attendees uncovered the fascinating backstories behind the buildings—why and when they were built—and got to hear some quirky quips about the students who once roamed these grounds back when it was The New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair and Montclair State Teachers College.

We asked student Ashley Colombo, sophomore and product design major, what her favorite part of the tour was.

My favorite part of the tour was seeing how the architecture has either stayed the same [over the years] or how the buildings were renovated.

Want to join the fun? Keep an eye out for future tours with Paul—you won’t want to miss them!