Gaziantep Atatürk Memorial Museum

Gaziantep Atatürk Memorial Museum was established by the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality to commemorate Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s visit to Gaziantep on 26 January 1933, during which he accepted an honorary citizenship offer and was officially registered in the population records of Bey Mahallesi. The museum, housed in a restored traditional Antep house belonging to the Konukoğlu family, opened to the public on 19 May 2014 in the historic Bey Mahallesi district.

^{Gaziantep Atatürk Memorial Museum} (Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality)

On 26 January 1933, the eve of Ramadan Bayram, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk visited Gaziantep and was warmly welcomed by the city’s residents. During his visit, he inspected the city and offered suggestions to Mayor Hamdi Kutlar. In recognition of his contributions, the Municipal Council awarded him an Honorary Citizenship Certificate. Accordingly, Atatürk’s official population registration was recorded in Bey Mahallesi of Gaziantep Province. His visit to Gaziantep was celebrated annually in the city with festive spirit for many years.

To symbolize Atatürk’s deep connection to the city and the city’s enduring loyalty to him, the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality decided to establish the Atatürk Memorial Museum. The historic Antep house, owned by the Konukoğlu family and located in Bey Mahallesi, was donated and restored to serve as the museum.

The museum retains the architectural features of a traditional Antep house. The complex consists of two buildings facing a shared courtyard, covering a total area of 220 square metres of open space and 400 square metres of enclosed space. During the restoration, the original floor plan, façade arrangement, and spatial characteristics of the house were preserved and integrated with elements from the Republican era and Antep culture.

In the museum courtyard, a copy of Atatürk’s population registration card from Bey Mahallesi and the Independence Medal awarded to Gaziantep are on display.

The first section of the museum displays original personal items used by Atatürk during his visits to Gaziantep. These include a bed (donated by Neyir Barlas), coffee cups, dining sets, a paşa grill, an Antep carpet, and embroidered shirts. The room where Atatürk stayed has been recreated with original furnishings.

The second section houses the Atatürk Research Library and the Oral History Research Room. Here, the heroic defense of Gaziantep during the War of Independence is presented through audiovisual presentations. Examples of everyday objects used by the public during that period are also exhibited. In addition, visitors can view the first edition of Nutuk, maps containing trench layouts from the War of Independence, and various documents related to the heroes of the era.