Erzurum Congress Building

Located in the central area of the city, the Erzurum Congress Building is a historic structure that played a pivotal role in the founding process of the Republic of Türkiye. Originally constructed in 1864 by Mıgırdiç Sanasaryan as the Sanasaryan College (Armenian Girls’ Boarding School), this building was later acquired by the state before the Republic and transferred to state ownership. In late 1924, the building suffered a major fire that completely destroyed its wooden sections. After repairs, it reopened in 1926 as Gazi Primary School. Within its premises, the building has housed the Yapı Art School, Beautiful Arts High School, and Social Sciences High School, serving as a home to various educational institutions. One of its halls was opened to the public in 1960 as the Atatürk and Erzurum Congress Museum. Following a comprehensive restoration carried out by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) between 2011 and 2013, the building was transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and now functions as the Congress Museum and Painting and Sculpture Gallery Directorate. The building served as the venue for the Erzurum Congress, convened under the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal between 23 July and 7 August 1919, becoming a platform where the fundamental strategies of the War of Independence and the principle of sovereignty were consolidated. With its historical significance, the building carries the responsibility of preserving the national memory and transmitting it to future generations.

Erzurum Congress Building (Source: Yakutiye Subdistrict Office)

Structural Origins and Early Function

The structural origins of the Erzurum Congress Building lie in the Sanasaryan College, one of the most important educational institutions of its time. Constructed in 1864 by Mıgırdiç Sanasaryan, the building served as an Armenian Girls’ Boarding School. Before the proclamation of the Republic, it was purchased by the state and brought under public ownership, where it was used for various educational purposes. In late 1924, a fire caused extensive damage to its wooden components. After restoration, the building resumed educational activities in 1926 as Gazi Primary School. In subsequent years, parts of the building were allocated to different educational institutions, and one section was opened to the public in 1960 as the Atatürk and Erzurum Congress Museum to emphasize the historical importance of the Congress.

From an architectural perspective, the building reflects the characteristics of 19th-century civil architecture. Constructed using cut stone stone, it exhibits the eclectic style of its era. Although the fire and subsequent repairs affected the building’s original architecture, its original main lines have been preserved.

The Erzurum Congress Venue (23 July – 7 August 1919)

The Erzurum Congress Building hosted the Erzurum Congress, a critical dönüm point in the founding process of the Republic of Türkiye. A total of 63 delegate delegates from the provinces of Erzurum, Sivas, Bitlis, Van, Trabzon and Muş, including the Representation Committee, gathered under the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Paşa. One of the primary reasons that paved the way for the Congress was Article 24 of the Armistice of Mudros. This substance granted the Allied Powers the authority to occupy six east provinces (Erzurum, Van, Elazığ, Diyarbakır, Bitlis, and Harput and Sivas) in the event of unrest, justifying such action as necessary for security. This situation was perceived as supporting the goal of establishing an Armenian state in the East. However, the population’s firm determination for independence formed a strong resistance against these plans.

The Erzurum Congress became one of the starting points of the independence movement, rallying under the slogan “The Homeland is a Whole, Indivisible.” The Congress convened against the backdrop of political tensions between the Ottoman State and Western powers and the impact of the Industry Revolution on the Ottoman economy. The bankruptcy declared by the 1838 Axe Treaty of Commerce and the 1883 Muharrem Decree rendered the Ottoman State economically dependent on foreign powers and accelerated the process of territorial partition. The victory of the Allied Powers in the First World World War and the signing of the Armistice of Mudros created the conditions for the occupation of the country.

Particularly Articles 7 and 24 of the Armistice of Mudros facilitated the occupation of Anatolia and supported plans to establish an Armenian state in Eastern Anatolia. In response to these developments, Mustafa Kemal Paşa and other patriotic Ottoman officers mobilized. Mustafa Kemal Paşa’s arrival in Samsun (19 May 1919) marked the beginning of the organization of a national resistance in Anatolia. The Basin Circular and the Amasya Circular aimed to announce the national movement across Anatolia. The Erzurum Congress emerged as a regional reaction against the activities of Armenian committees in Eastern Anatolia, but its decisions granted it a national character.

Key Decisions Adopted at the Congress

• The homeland is a whole, indivisible: This article emphasized that not only Eastern Anatolia but the entire territory must be liberated from occupation, giving the Congress a national character.
• The nation will resist collectively against all forms of foreign occupation and intervention: The aim was to mobilize the public under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Paşa in the struggle for independence.
• If the Ottoman Government cannot secure the independence of Eastern provinces and the entire homeland, a provisional government will be established: An alternative governance model was proposed in opposition to the Ottoman Government’s surrenderist stance.
• The primary principle is to activate the National Forces (Kuvayı Milliye) and establish national will as supreme: The importance of a liberation struggle based on popular power was underscored.
• Political dominance and social privileges that disrupt the balance for Christian minorities must not be granted: The first official stance against capitulations was taken.
• Mandate and protectorate are unacceptable: The principle of full independence was firmly adopted.
• The National Assembly must convene immediately and the government must be subject to parliamentary oversight: The principle of national sovereignty was emphasized.

The decisions adopted at the Erzurum Congress hold great importance in terms of asserting unconditional national independence, mentioning national borders for the first time, and establishing the Representation Committee. The Congress served as a preparatory step for the Sivas Congress and provided moral support to the Kuvayı Milliye movement across Anatolia. It also holds special significance as the first place where Mustafa Kemal Paşa assumed a civilian role. The Ottoman Government’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Mustafa Kemal Paşa following the Congress demonstrated the Allied Powers’ unease regarding the national resistance in Anatolia. The decisions of the Erzurum Congress laid the foundation for the Misak-ı Milli resolutions, asserting that Anatolia could not be occupied and must remain Turkish land. This resolve was ultimately recognized by the Allied Powers through the victory of the War of Independence, the Armistice of Mudanya, and the Treaty of Lausanne.

The Republican Era and the Process of Becoming a Museum

After the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye, the building, which had served various educational institutions, took its first step toward preserving its historical significance when a section was opened to the public in 1960 as the Atatürk and Erzurum Congress Museum. Between 2011 and 2013, comprehensive restoration works carried out by the TBMM led to the building being transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and reorganized as the Congress Museum and Painting and Sculpture Gallery Directorate. The museum displays historical documents, photographs, artifacts reflecting the atmosphere of the era, and personal belongings of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Paşa. It remains an important destination for visitors seeking to understand the conditions of the period.

Erzurum Congress Building (Source: Ministry of Culture and Tourism)