The SEKA Paper Museum has been organized upon the industrial heritage of the İzmit SEKA Paper Factory, which was one of the first and most comprehensive industrial establishments founded in the field of paper production in Turkey. The museum is a corporate memory and exhibition area documenting both the historical development of the factory and the social and cultural uses of paper.

^{SEKA Paper Museum (Kocaeli Büyükşehir Belediyesi)}

Establishment and Historical Background

Studies towards modern paper production in Turkey began in the 1920s, and in 1934, it was decided to establish the SEKA Paper Factory in İzmit. The factory was built with its foundation laid on August 14, 1934, and began trial production in 1936. Production activities became regular within the same year. Thus, Turkey began to meet a significant portion of its paper needs with domestic production.

The factory complex (yerleşkesi) was not just composed of production units; it also housed worker lodgings, educational institutions, social facilities, and cultural areas. Due to these characteristics, SEKA held the quality of a modern worker settlement in addition to being an industrial facility.

^{First domestic paper production, 1936 (SEKA Kağıt Müzesi)}

Closure Process and Transformation into a Museum

Starting from the 1980s, dependent on the increase in private sector investments, the production capacity of the İzmit Paper Factory decreased, and it was decided to close it in 1998 for economic reasons. The factory was transferred to the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality with regulations made in 2005. After this stage, efforts were initiated to preserve the facility as industrial heritage and to re-functionalize it.

Museum and Exhibition Area

The SEKA Paper Museum was created on a 12,345 m² indoor area and was arranged to have 16 exhibition halls. In the exhibitions, the history of paper, the production process, the establishment and operation of the factory, the social life of the employees, and the industrialization policies of the Republic period are conveyed through documents, objects, machines, and audio-visual presentations.

The museum, in line with a contemporary museology approach, provides visitors with the opportunity to experience different periods of the factory through digital content and augmented reality (AR) applications. Photographs and documents taken from the factory's original structures allow visitors to compare past production processes with today's spatial arrangements.

^{Paper Museum Printing Hall (SEKA Kağıt Müzesi)}

Socio-Cultural Dimension

The SEKA complex was active in regional life for many years with its worker cooperative, educational institutions, sports clubs, and social facilities. The area where the factory was located, therefore, served the function of an important center not only in terms of production but also in terms of urbanization and social life.

Visitation and Participation

The SEKA Paper Museum is open to all citizens free of charge. Education and workshop activities for different age groups are also carried out free of charge. In this respect, the museum prioritizes accessibility and aims to share cultural heritage.