Bigalı Çamyayla Atatürk House

Bigalı (Çamyayla) Atatürk House is a historic building located in the village of Bigalı, within the Eceabat district of Çanakkale. During the Çanakkale Land Wars, it served as the headquarters of Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal from 18 to 25 April 1915 while he commanded the 19th Division. The two-story house, built in the bagdadî style, originally belonged to the village headman of the period, Hacı Hüseyin Kanyılmaz. Today, it functions as a museum and displays historical documents related to the Çanakkale Wars, personal belongings of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and artifacts reflecting daily life of the era.

Bigalı Çamyayla Atatürk House (Anadolu Agency)

History

Atatürk was appointed commander of the 19th Division on 1 February 1915. After quickly organizing his division, he arrived in Eceabat on 25 February 1915 and moved to the Bigalı region on 24 March 1915. He used the village house in Çamyayla as his headquarters and planned the offensives against enemy forces at Conkbayırı and Arıburnu within this building. Promoted to colonel on 1 June 1915, Atatürk returned to Istanbul on 10 December 1915 after the Çanakkale Victory.

In 1965, efforts began to convert the building into a museum. In 1969, the Committee for the Establishment of the Çamyayla Atatürk Museum was formed, and a plaque inscribed with “Headquarters of M. Kemal Atatürk’s 19th Division in 1915” was mounted on the building’s outer door. In 1973, the structure was transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, officially becoming a museum. The building was restored during the 1980s, and a new restoration project initiated on 1 February 2017 lasted approximately one and a half years. It was reopened to the public on 10 August 2024 by the Minister of Culture and Tourism.

Architectural Features

The house is a traditional two-story village dwelling constructed in the bagdadî style.

• The ground floor contains a dining room and a pantry,
• The upper floor consists of a sitting room and three bedrooms.
• The central room served as Atatürk’s study, the room on the right as his bedroom, and the other as the aide’s room.
• A cumba (wooden balcony) is located on the front facade, and the ceilings and floors of the rooms are made of wood.

Transformation into a Museum

As a result of initiatives launched in the region in 1965, the building was transferred to the Ministry of Culture in 1973 and converted into a museum. Restored during the 1980s, the structure was reorganized to remain faithful to the period’s atmosphere. Many artifacts from the era, including Atatürk’s original desk, are exhibited here.

Exhibited Artifacts

• Atatürk’s working desk
• Furniture and household items reflecting daily life of the period
• Photographs, documents, and examples of military plans
• Informational panels and maps

Administrative Structure and Visitation

The museum is currently open to visitors under the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. This space, where Atatürk’s 1915 Çanakkale spirit is vividly preserved, holds the status of an important cultural heritage for both military history enthusiasts and general visitors.