Gaziantep Toy and Game Museum is one of Türkiye’s unique thematic museums, offering a nostalgic time tunnel not only for children but also for adults who want to connect with the past. Located in Gaziantep’s historic Bey District, the museum opened its doors to visitors on April 6, 2013. With its cultural diversity, period toy examples, and architectural features, the building attracts attention and was established under the leadership of the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality.

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Historical Texture and Space Features

The museum operates in a three-story Antep house consisting of eight separate exhibition rooms. One of the most striking features of the space is the tunnels carved into natural rock. These tunnels are planned in harmony with local architecture and defense systems, potentially connected with other underground passages in the region. The museum building contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage with its structure reflecting traditional Gaziantep domestic architecture.

Collection and Exhibition Layout

The collection of the Gaziantep Toy and Game Museum includes approximately 600 toys. Spanning from the 1700s to the 1990s, these toys bear the socio-cultural and economic traces of their periods. A large part of the toys was sourced from countries such as Germany, the United States of America, Japan, and Türkiye.

Among the exhibited toys are tin cars, dollhouses, wooden toys, plush animals, rag dolls, and wind-up trains. Additionally, toys traditionally used in Anatolia and produced by local craftsmen are also among the important pieces of the museum. In this way, both global and local toy cultures are presented together.

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Educational and Cultural Function

The museum is not only an exhibition space but also an active learning environment where educational workshops are held for children and families, and where play culture is kept alive. On certain days, storytelling, puppet shows, and various handicraft workshops are organized. These activities aim both to develop children's imagination and to transfer the play experiences of past generations to new ones.

Toy Culture in an International Context

Gaziantep Toy and Game Museum presents the history of world toys to visitors in thematic rooms. Each room exhibits toys from a different country and provides information about the children's culture of that country. This multicultural approach makes the museum not only locally but also universally significant as a toy museum.