Sakarya Trade Museum

The Sakarya Trade Museum is a historical and cultural institution located in the Adapazarı district of Sakarya province, focusing on the city’s banking and commercial history. Housed in the restored historic building of Adapazarı Islamic Trade Bank, Türkiye’s first private national bank, the museum was officially opened with a ceremony on 21 June 2024, marking the 103rd anniversary of Adapazarı’s liberation from enemy occupation.

^{Sakarya Ticaret Müzesi} (ODÖO)

The building that houses the museum is the former structure of Adapazarı Islamic Trade Bank, which holds a significant place in Sakarya’s commercial history. The bank was established in 1913 by 13 Adapazarı merchants on the principle of interest-free banking, with the aim of meeting the financial needs of Muslim traders and artisans in the region and creating an economic resistance against the economic pressures exerted by non-Muslims.

Initially founded with a personal capital of 13,629 Ottoman liras, the institution expanded over time, opened branches, relocated its headquarters to Ankara after the proclamation of the Republic, and on 31 March 1937 adopted the name Turkish Trade Bank AŞ. After remaining closed and unused for 23 years, the historic building was transformed into a museum following comprehensive restoration and archival work carried out by the Adapazarı Municipality in collaboration with experts.

The museum hosts a collection of 565 different types of artifacts that reflect the city’s commercial memory, entrepreneurial spirit, and production culture. On the ground floor, visitors are presented with a chronological account of the bank’s founding, operations, and transformation over the years. Among the exhibited items are:

• Vintage computers, calculators, and typewriters.
• Examples of paper and coin currency, stamps, and checks.
• Historic safes and various banking equipment from the period.
• Informative materials related to the historic Silk Road.

Rather than being a static institution, the museum operates on a model that grows through public participation; its collection is continuously expanded by donations from visitors and the public, and the names of donors are acknowledged on some of the exhibited items.

The museum serves not only as an exhibition space but also as an educational center aimed at instilling awareness of local history among younger generations. In this context, educational programs and workshops on the city’s commercial history and museology are organized for students. In the first year following its opening, the museum welcomed approximately 39,000 visitors.

Located in Cumhuriyet Neighborhood (Historic Orhan Mosque Square), the museum is open daily from 09:30 to 18:00. Admission is free, and the institution provides accessible facilities and guided tour services for visitors.