Museum of the War of Independence (Building of the First Grand National Assembly of Türkiye)

War of Independence Museum reflects the current function of the building that hosted the First Grand National Assembly of Türkiye from 23 April 1920 to 15 October 1924 on Ulus Square, Ankara. The structure, which was decided to be converted into a museum in 1957, opened to the public on 23 April 1961 as the “Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Museum” and on 23 April 1981 as the “War of Independence Museum.” The museum is one of the cultural assets that materialize the founding memory of the Republic of Türkiye through original documents, artifacts, and architecture related to the National Struggle years.

War of Independence Museum (Türkiye Culture Portal)

History

The building of the First Grand National Assembly of Türkiye was originally designed in 1915 as a “club” structure for the Ankara branch of the Committee of Union and Progress^【1】. The project was prepared by Salim Bey, architect of the Ministry of Endowments; construction supervision was assigned to Mahmut Şevket (Esendal) Bey, the committee’s representative in Ankara; and implementation was entrusted to Hasip Bey, a military architect serving in the corps. Due to material shortages during the war years, the roof and interior elements remained unfinished; construction halted entirely when Hasip Bey was killed in action.

In the period following the Armistice of Mudros, British and French forces arrived in Ankara in November 1918 and occupied various locations in the city. The commander of the French detachment used this half-finished building as his headquarters. Following Mustafa Kemal Paşa’s arrival in Ankara on 27 December 1919, the French forces vacated the building and left the city.

When it was decided that the Grand National Assembly would open on 23 April 1920, there was no other building in Ankara large enough to serve this purpose. The unfinished club building was rapidly completed with public financial and moral contributions under the supervision of Bursa Deputy Necati Bey and converted into the First Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. The Assembly convened under this roof until 15 October 1924; foundational decisions such as the adoption of the 1921 Constitution, the abolition of the Sultanate, the ratification of the Treaty of Lausanne, and the proclamation of the Republic were made here.

Ankara National Assembly (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Functional Changes

Architectural Features

The building housing the War of Independence Museum is an example of public architecture from the First National Architectural Movement. Originally designed in 1915 as a club building for the Committee of Union and Progress, the project was prepared by Salim Bey, architect of the Ministry of Endowments, and construction was carried out by military architect Hasip Bey. Due to wartime conditions, the structure was not fully completed and was repurposed as the Assembly building in 1920. Local pink-purple andesite stone (Ankara stone) was used in the construction and applied with regular stonework on the façade.

Facade of the War of Independence Museum (Ankara Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism)

The building has a symmetrical plan and consists of two floors. Rooms arranged along the corridor from the entrance were organized to suit the parliamentary activities of the period. Sections such as the Presidency Council, Commission Rooms, Sharia Council Room, Rest Room, Mosque, and Speaker’s Office reflect this functional layout. The central Plenary Hall has a rectangular plan and has been preserved in its original form. Distinct areas within the hall include the Speaker’s podium, the Clerk’s desk, the Council of Ministers’ seating, and the deputies’ seating areas.

Mosque (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Furnishings within the interior spaces were collected according to the period’s usage and conditions. For example, the Assembly podium was constructed by a local carpenter, and seating was sourced from educational institutions in Ankara. Lighting and heating equipment included oil lamps and sheet metal stoves.

Plenary Hall (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Museum Collection

The collection of the War of Independence Museum consists of diverse materials documenting the historical process between 1918 and 1923. The interior spaces of the museum building have been arranged to reflect the original parliamentary structure, with each room curated to convey a specific historical theme.

On the left side of the corridor and its connected rooms, a chronological display presents critical documents, photographs, oil paintings, and military artifacts from the Armistice of Mudros through Mustafa Kemal’s landing in Samsun, the Amasya Circular, the Erzurum and Sivas Congresses, and the National Pact. On the right side of the corridor, rooms display documents, badges, medals, and memorabilia belonging to deputies of the first and second terms of the Assembly.

The Plenary Hall has been opened to the public with its original seating arrangement preserved. The Speaker’s podium, the Clerk’s desk, the deputies’ benches, and period-appropriate oil lamps, stoves, and writing sets are exhibited here. The Presidency Council Room contains the presidential table used at the Sivas Congress and photographs of the first cabinet of the Republic, while the Council Room displays technical materials such as the seal of the Erzurum Congress, communication devices, and cipher machines.

Independence Anthem Room (Türkiye Culture Portal)

The Rest Room contains the Lausanne Treaty negotiation table, gifts related to the Treaty of Gümrü, and various military objects from the war period; the Sharia Council Room presents the National Pact carpet, draft constitutions, and symbols of independence to visitors.

The Speaker’s Office was designed as Mustafa Kemal’s workspace in the Assembly. Here, the presidential seal, carpet panels, and bureau equipment from the era are preserved in their original condition. Together, all these sections transform the museum’s collection into a multi-layered narrative composed not only of documents but also of functional objects and historical artifacts.

Speaker’s Office (Türkiye Culture Portal)