Caucasus Front War History Museum is located in Kars, Türkiye. It was established by restoring Kanlı Tabya, one of the fortifications built by the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century to defend the eastern borders. The museum operates under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and has been functioning as a unit affiliated with the Kars Museum Directorate since 2017.
Location and Area
The museum is situated in Örnek Mahallesi, Central district, Kars, on parcel 476, plot 514. The registered cultural property covers an area of 29,819.32 square meters. The museum has 1,200 m² of indoor exhibition space and 7,000 m² of outdoor exhibition area.
Caucasus Front War History Museum (Culture Portal)
History
Kanlı Tabya was constructed in 1803 during the reign of Sultan Selim III, originally named “Yeni Tabya.” The name “Kanlı Tabya” (“Bloody Fort”) was given by locals after a night raid by the Russian army in 1828, during which an entire battalion stationed there was martyred. It was actively used in 19th-century defenses in Kars against Russian forces, especially during the 1828 Russian assault, the 1855 Kars Victory, and the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War. After the 1855 Kars Victory, Sultan Abdülmecid issued 3,000 Kars Medals, which were sent to the city.
Restoration and Museum Conversion Process
The restoration tender was held by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on 09.07.2012, and restoration work began. As a result, the fortification building was repurposed and converted into a museum. The museum officially opened as a unit affiliated with the Kars Museum Directorate with the approval document dated 30.09.2017, number E.198488.
Exhibition Areas and Sections
War Installation Room
A section symbolizing the farewell of martyrs to eternity and visually reflecting the atmosphere of war.
Historical Documents Room
Original documents, photographs, and archival materials related to military operations, battles, and developments at the Caucasus Front are displayed.
Laments and Letters Section
Letters written by soldiers on the front lines and laments composed during the war are exhibited.
Martyrs’ Path
A symbolic walking route dedicated to soldiers who lost their lives during the Sarıkamış Operation.
Living Quarters (Reenactment Rooms)
Sections recreated with silicone figures to reflect the daily life of soldiers at the front, including:
- Infirmary
- Operating Room
- Barracks
- Kitchen
Some important events are displayed interactively in the museum (Culture Portal)
Museum Collection Section
Ethnographic artifacts from the Ottoman and early Republic periods, carrying movable cultural heritage significance, are exhibited.
Snow Installation
A special installation created to commemorate soldiers who froze to death under the snow during the Sarıkamış Operation.
Interactive Area
An area with informational kiosks where visitors can obtain knowledge through digital interaction.
Introduction Hall
Display panels related to significant military and local figures who served at the Caucasus Front. Notable figures include:
- Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
- Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Paşa
- Kazım Karabekir Paşa
- Halit Paşa
- Cihangiroğlu İbrahim Bey
- Kurt İsmail Paşa
Exhibited Items in the Museum ( Anadolu Agency)
White Wagon
The “White Wagon” displayed in the museum garden was gifted to 15th Corps Commander Kazım Karabekir Paşa by the Russian military delegation visiting Kars for the Kars Treaty negotiations on October 13, 1921. Kazım Karabekir Paşa used this wagon throughout his corps command along the Kars-Erzurum line.
White Wagon (Source: Culture Portal)
Significance and Mission
The Caucasus Front War History Museum was established to preserve the memory of important military events in Kars and its surroundings, protect cultural heritage, and convey the conditions of the period to visitors. In Kars, the province with the most fortifications in Türkiye, transforming Kanlı Tabya, a historic defensive structure, into a museum raises historical awareness and keeps the memory of martyrs alive.
