Şuhut Atatürk House is located in the Yalı Neighborhood of Şuhut district, Afyonkarahisar province, at the intersection of Eğri Street and Çeşme Street. The building was constructed in 1897 by Hacı Veli of Şuhut. Reflecting the civil architectural style of its period, the mansion is a two-story example of traditional Turkish residential architecture.
Şuhut Atatürk House (T.C. Afyonkarahisar Valiliği)
Historical Significance
The Hacıvelioğlu Mansion gained great strategic importance during the Turkish War of Independence, particularly just before the Great Offensive (Büyük Taarruz). On Thursday, August 24, 1922, Commander-in-Chief Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha arrived in Şuhut from Akşehir and stayed in this mansion. Between August 24–25, 1922, the mansion served as the joint headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, the General Staff, the Western Front Command, and the 1st Army Command.
Mustafa Kemal Pasha’s Headquarters
Mustafa Kemal Pasha stayed in the mansion with İsmet Pasha, Fevzi Pasha, Chief Aide Salih Bozok, Second Aide Muzaffer Kılıç, Escort Officer Captain Mahmut Soydan, and Orderly Sergeant Ali Metin. The final preparations for the Great Offensive were made here, and the order to “cut off all communication between Anatolia and the outside world” was issued from this location. Afterwards, the command moved to Kocatepe, where the offensive began.
Connection to the Republic and Symbolic Value
Şuhut Atatürk House is considered not only the planning center for the Great Offensive but also one of the places where the foundations of the Republic were laid. In this regard, Afyonkarahisar is recognized as one of the cities closely linked to the history of the Republic, with many buildings that witnessed the national struggle.
Museum Conversion and Conservation Efforts
The mansion was expropriated on behalf of the Ministry of Culture by the Treasury on December 24, 1999. Restoration work began in 2003. It was opened to the public in 2005 under the name “Atatürk Culture and Art House” and later renamed “Şuhut Atatürk House,” becoming part of the official Atatürk Houses network.
Victory Week and Commemorative Marches
Each year, Victory Week celebrations held between August 25–30 begin at this house. On the night of August 25, thousands of people participate in the 17-kilometer Victory Road march from Şuhut to Kocatepe. The walk ends at 4:30 a.m. on August 26 with ceremonial artillery fire at Kocatepe. There, visitors find Atatürk’s silhouette monument, inscriptions, and marble tablets.
Augmented Reality Project
Today, Şuhut Atatürk House offers an enriched visitor experience with augmented reality (AR) technology. Implemented through collaboration between the Şuhut District Governorship and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s 5th Regional Directorate, the headquarters-themed AR application allows visitors to explore the house with a digital guide.
Digital Content and Interactive Experience
The AR application includes audio narratives, animated reenactments, AR videos, and 3D photo zones in different sections of the house. Notably, the war planning session held on August 25, 1922, in Atatürk’s command room is recreated with animations for visitors.
Visitor Interest and Impact
In August 2023 alone, 30,000 people visited Kocatepe, and Şuhut Atatürk House hosted approximately 28,700 visitors during Victory Week. In the first nine months of the year, it welcomed a total of 80,000 visitors. These figures reflect the house’s place in national memory and its enduring public importance.
