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The Republic Museum (Cumhuriyet Müzesi) is housed in the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey (II. TBMM Binası) in Ankara. It’s located in the Ulus district.

Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey

 

History of the Building

The second building of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was designed and built by architect Vedat Tek (1873-1942) in 1923. It was originally meant to be a gathering place for the Republican People’s Party (CHP). When authorities realized the First Grand National Assembly building was no longer sufficient, they converted the building into the Second Grand National Assembly. It went into service on October 18, 1924, and functioned until May 27, 1960.

Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey

After 1960, the building served as the headquarters of CENTO (Central Treaty Organization) until it was dissolved in 1979. After a lengthy restoration, it opened to the public as the Republic Museum on October 30, 1981.


 

Visiting the Republic Museum

The Republic Museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Admission for foreigners is €6 (as of March 2024). Even if you aren’t interested in Turkish government, it’s worth seeing the architecture. Displays are in Turkish and English. Check the official website for more info. We spent about a half hour walking through.

 

Ground Floor of the Republic Museum

The museum starts on the ground floor with exhibits on the history of the building. The next rooms focus on the social, economic, cultural, and political reforms implemented by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), the founder of the Turkish Republic.

Ground floor at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Ground floor
Atatürk's typewriter
Atatürk’s typewriter
Microphone used by Atatürk during his Tenth Year Speech on October 29, 1933 at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Microphone used by Atatürk during his Tenth Year Speech on October 29, 1933
Hats used by Atatürk to introduce the Hat Law
Hats used by Atatürk to introduce the Hat Law

To the right of the entrance to the General Assembly Hall are rooms containing the personal belongings of Turkey’s first three Presidents: Atatürk, İsmet İnönü (1884-1973), and Celâl Bayar (1883-1986).

Personal belongings of Atatürk at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Personal belongings of Atatürk
Formal wear used by Atatürk
Formal wear used by Atatürk
Leisure wear and personal items used by Atatürk
Leisure wear and personal items used by Atatürk
Personal belongings of İsmet İnönü
Personal belongings of İsmet İnönü
Personal belongings of Celâl Bayar
Personal belongings of Celâl Bayar

Also on the first floor is an Ottoman flag that once flew over the Ottoman headquarters in Damascus. It was taken down by British forces when they captured the building in 1918 during World War I. British General Edmund Allenby (1861-1936) delivered the flag to Sergeant Edgar Turner who took it to England. Turner’s grandson gave the flag to the Turkish Embassy in London, and it was brought to Turkey on December 26, 2014.

Ottoman flag flown over Ottoman headquarters in Damascus in 1918
Ottoman flag flown over Ottoman headquarters in Damascus in 1918


 

Upper Floor of the Republic Museum

On the upper floor, offices and meeting rooms have been recreated using photographs from the period the building was used by the Grand National Assembly.

Upper floor at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Upper floor
Assembly Speakership Chamber at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Assembly Speakership Chamber
Assembly Speakership Chamber at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Assembly Speakership Chamber
President's Study at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
President’s Study

The largest and most impressive of these rooms is the Presidential Lounge, which features elegant furniture and fixtures.

Presidential Lounge at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Presidential Lounge
Presidential Lounge at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Presidential Lounge

Some of the rooms were used as offices while others were used as functional rooms. Pay special attention to the hand-drawn motifs on the ceilings of some rooms as well as the beautiful chandeliers.

Prime Minister's Study at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Prime Minister’s Study
Prime Minister's Study
Prime Minister’s Study
Administration Supervisor's Chamber at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Administration Supervisor’s Chamber
Bureau Administration Chamber at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Bureau Administration Chamber


 

General Assembly Hall

Finally, after visiting all of the other rooms in the building, we entered the grand General Assembly Hall. Laws were enacted, treaties were signed, and the transition to a multi-party system was achieved there. It was also the place where Atatürk’s Reforms were adopted.

General Assembly Hall at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
General Assembly Hall
General Assembly Hall
General Assembly Hall
Speaker's chair at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Speaker’s chair

Atatürk read Nutuk (The Speech) in the hall. Nutuk lasted 36 hours and 33 minutes and was read over a six day period from October 15-20, 1927.

Speaker's chair at the Republic Museum at the Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ulus, Ankara, Turkey
Speaker’s chair
Ceiling of the General Assembly Hall
Ceiling of the General Assembly Hall

The General Assembly Hall contains 116 seating booths for deputies. The number of deputies reached up to 610 depending on the election cycle. The words “Sovereignty Belongs to the Nation” (Hakimiyet Milletindir) are written above the speaker’s chair.

General Assembly Hall from the upper floor
General Assembly Hall from the upper floor
Speaker's chair
Speaker’s chair

 

Map with the Republic Museum

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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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