Tekirdağ Muratlı Atatürk House

Muratlı Atatürk House is a historic residence in the Muratlı district of Tekirdağ province, visited by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk during his trip to Thrace on 3 June 1936. This house, where Atatürk personally stayed for a period, is now open to the public as a museum. It simultaneously bears witness to an important moment in the history of the Republic and reflects the architecture of a typical migration period immigrant home.

Tekirdağ Muratlı Atatürk House (Türkiye Culture Portal)

Historical Background

Under Article 24 July 1923 of the Treaty of Lausanne concerning “Population Exchanges,” Turkish immigrants from Bulgaria were settled in Muratlı between 1934 and 1935. As part of the settlement policies of the period, housing for these immigrants was constructed in the region. At that time Muratlı was a subdistrict center under Çorlu, and the state was establishing model villages alongside agricultural research centers in Thrace.

Atatürk’s Visit

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk arrived in Muratlı on 3 June 1936, accompanied by General Inspector of Thrace Kazım Dirik, to observe firsthand the development efforts in the region. Together with Army Commander Salih Omurtak and the Governor of Tekirdağ Haşim İşcan, he visited the immigrant homes, conversed with families, and listened to their needs. During this visit, he was hosted in a house belonging to the Mesut Usta family, located opposite the train station, where the daughter of the house served him coffee. Delighted by the warm reception, the household preserved this event as an unforgettable memory. Expressing his satisfaction with the hospitality he received, Atatürk composed the following verses:

“O fortunate immigrant,

Do not forget the 3rd of June,

The greatest person of your homeland,

Was your guest,

Offered you love.”

Architectural Features and Conversion into a Museum

The structure, built of adobe, is single-storey and consists of three rooms and a kitchen. It is located in the İstiklal Quarter of Muratlı, on plot 2 of parcel 123. The house was expropriated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2000, restored faithfully to its original form, and converted into a museum in 2007 under the name “Muratlı Atatürk House.”

Symbolic Value and Cultural Heritage

The Muratlı Atatürk House carries symbolic value not only as the site of Atatürk’s brief visit but also as a reflection of the Republic’s migration policies, direct communication with the people, and the process of modernization. The closeness Atatürk demonstrated during his home visit is a powerful indication of the bond he forged with the public. In this respect, the Muratlı Atatürk House is an important element of cultural heritage, significant both for local history and national identity. Its preservation as a museum contributes to the transmission of this memory from generation to generation.

Current Use

Today, the building serves as a museum displaying photographs documenting Atatürk’s visit to Muratlı and ethnographic local artifacts. Additionally, in the courtyard of the building stands a monument symbolizing Atatürk’s visit, inscribed with the verses above. The museum fulfills the function of preserving historical memory and promoting local culture for both domestic and international visitors.