Kayseri Atatürk House Museum is a historical museum located in the İmamzade Raşit Ağa Mansion, a late Ottoman-era residence that witnessed Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s visit to Kayseri in 1919. Situated at No. 43 Tennuri Street, Cumhuriyet Neighborhood, Melikgazi district of Kayseri, the mansion was built in the late 19th century and represents an authentic example of late Ottoman Turkish residential architecture. This two-story structure, with its exterior clad in cut stone and notable use of wood, stands out as one of the few remaining traditional Ottoman houses still preserved in Kayseri.
Kayseri Atatürk House and Museum (Türkiye Kültür Portalı)
Architectural Features
The building exhibits traditional Ottoman decorative elements such as arched wooden windows, bay windows (cumbas), and wooden motifs adorning the roof edges and eaves. The floors and ceilings are made of wood. The entrance features double-winged wooden shutters that open outward and an iron door accessed by a cut-stone staircase on the southern facade. The upper floor contains four rooms, accessible via a wooden spiral staircase, each with wooden ceiling decorations, and includes a marble-adorned indoor fountain.
Historical Significance and Atatürk’s Visit
The mansion hosted Mustafa Kemal Atatürk for two nights on December 19–20, 1919, during his first visit to Kayseri as President of the Representation Committee. This visit occurred during a critical juncture in Turkish history, just before the War of Independence, lending the house significant historical importance.
Preservation and Conversion into a Museum
In 1976, the mansion was officially registered as an immovable cultural asset in need of protection and was subsequently expropriated by the Ministry of Culture in 1978. It opened to the public in 1983 as the “Atatürk House.” On December 19, 1998, the second floor was reorganized as the “Atatürk Museum” and opened to visitors. Today, the entrance and basement floors house exhibition halls and administrative offices of the Directorate of Fine Arts Gallery under the Ministry of Culture.
Museum Collection and Exhibits
The museum displays documents and photographs related to Atatürk’s visit to Kayseri, along with period furnishings such as carpets, tablecloths, a wooden piano, mirrors, and stoves. A wax figure of Atatürk, personal items he used, and the proclamation he issued during his stay are also on display. The dining room features a table, traditional seating benches (sedir), and oil lamps, while the guest room was arranged to accommodate his companions.
Cultural and Architectural Value
The İmamzade Raşit Ağa Mansion is one of the last surviving examples of Kayseri’s local architectural tradition, with roots reaching back to the Middle Ages. Its architectural qualities and its role in hosting Atatürk elevate its status as a site of both cultural and historical heritage. The museum offers visitors an immersive experience of the era and commemorates Atatürk’s presence in Kayseri.
