The Independence War Museum
(First Grand National Assembly Building)
 The
construction of the First Grand National Assembly Building in Ulus Square, had started in
1915 as İttihat ve Terakki Cemiyeti (The Union and Advance Society). Its plan
was made by Salim Bey who was an architect in the government foundation; and the
construction was supervised by army corps military architect Hasip Bey. Ankara stone
(Andezit) was used for the walls of the two storeyed building which is one of the
buildings of the First National Architectural Period.
It was used as the First G.N.A. building between 23rd, April 1920 and 15th, October
1924; later on as the Central Office of Cumhuriyet Halk Fırkası (The Republican
People's Party) and law School. It was transferred to Ministry of Education in 1952 and
decided to be opened as a museum in 1957.
The building opened to the public with the name "Grand National Assembly
Museum" on 23rd April 1961. On being induced in the celebration program of Atatürk's
100th anniversary of birth and as a result of restoration and exposing-arranging works of
Ministry of Culture - The General Directorate of Ancient Monuments and Museums in 1981, it
reopened with the name "The Independence War Museum" on 23rd April, 1981.
The upper floor of the building was arranged as museum. It is composed of a corridor in
the middle and nine rooms and a meeting hall at its two sides. All the stages of the
Independence War starting from its beginning (1918-1923) can be seen in the corridor and
in the rooms an the left-hand side of it; while the work of the assembly and some
photographs, documents, oilpaint pictures, war arms, means, materials and their models
belonging to the First Period Deputies, are exhibited in some part of the corridor and in
the rooms on the right-hand side of it.
Assembly hall, president's room, council of ministers room, committee room, management
rooms and mesjid (room used for praying) are decorated authentically and
preserved as in their previous form.
Stores, exhibition halls, photograph studio and a laboratory exist at the basement of
the building.
Among the collection of the museum, there are photographs showing the Independence War,
Atatürk and his close friends and the first years of the
Republic Period, ethnographical materials, medals, memorial coins, archive documents, maps
and oilpaint pictures exist. |
