Istanbul Maritime Museum
Istanbul Maritime Museum is the museum with the largest collection of maritime artifacts in Türkiye. It is an institution that displays historical ship components, ancient maps, and equipment related to seafaring. Located on the shores of the Bosphorus in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, the museum was established to preserve Türkiye’s maritime history and culture and to convey this knowledge to visitors.
İstanbul Deniz Müzesi (Culture Portal)
Why Is the Museum Important?
The museum presents historical developments in maritime affairs through tangible evidence. Here, you can see various tools used by sailors throughout history and remnants from naval battles. These artifacts serve as a vital resource for understanding the cultural and military impact of seafaring.
İstanbul Deniz Müzesi (Anadolu Agency)
Journey Through Time: Founding and Relocation
The İstanbul Deniz Müzesi is one of the first military museums established in Türkiye.
- The museum was originally founded in 1897, 128 years ago, by Hasan Hüsnü Paşa, the Minister of the Navy. At that time, it was known as Müze-i Bahriye and was located in Kasımpaşa.
- After being relocated several times, the museum began exhibiting its collection in its current modern building in Beşiktaş in 2013. This new structure was built to preserve the historical collection and to provide a larger space for display.
İstanbul Deniz Müzesi (Anadolu Agency)
What Is in the Museum’s Collection?
The museum houses more than 20,000 artifacts, organized into four large halls and 17 different rooms according to thematic categories.
Historical Rowboats and Warships
One of the museum’s most notable collections consists of the sultan’s ceremonial rowboats used by Ottoman sultans. These boats were employed during state ceremonies or short sea voyages and featured elaborate decorations.
- The collection also includes a model of a kadırga, a type of vessel used in the Mediterranean around the 17th century (approximately 400 years ago). The kadırga was typically propelled not by sails but by the strength of many oarsmen.
Maritime Documents and Instruments
The museum displays navigational instruments used by sailors, such as compasses, ancient sea charts, and ship models. Sea charts are also known as portolans. A portolan is a specially drawn map showing distances between ports and maritime routes. These instruments help us understand how sea voyages were conducted in the past.
