Atatürk Ankara War of Independence Museum is a museum entirely dedicated to the people of Ankara, telling the story of their sacrifices and bravery as the closest witnesses of the National Struggle.

Atatürk Ankara War of Independence Museum is the first and only museum focusing on recent local history that tells the story of Ankara’s role during the National Struggle, in our capital city Ankara, the heart of the Republic.

In Atatürk Ankara War of Independence Museum, visitors encounter the dark days that began with the occupation of Ankara by British and French troops following the Armistice of Mondros, and the story of how the people of Ankara rose up against this occupation under leaders such as Hoca Sadullah Efendi, Hoca Atıf Efendi and Rıfat Börekçi. From the National Regiment and the declaration of jihad at Namazgâh Hill to the establishment of the Association for the Defence of National Rights, the welcoming of Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms, and the efforts of the people of Ankara—women, children and the elderly alike—during the days of the National Struggle, the museum recounts the brave fight and sacrifices of the Anatolian people.

The museum building was originally planned as the “Çoban Mektebi” (Shepherd School) in 1889 by Sultan Abdülhamid II to promote agriculture in the Ottoman Empire and opened for education in 1908. After Atatürk’s arrival in Ankara on 27 December 1919, this historic building became a place of accommodation and work for the civilian heroes and intellectuals of the National Struggle. Atatürk himself also visited the building from time to time for conversations and meetings. Alongside figures such as Halide Edip and Adnan Adıvar, Hamdullah Suphi Tanrıöver, Cami Baykurt, Refik Saydam, Yunus Nadi and Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu, Mehmet Akif Ersoy also stayed here for a short period. Halide Edip Adıvar recounts the days she spent in Çoban Mektebi and in Keçiören in her book The Turkish Ordeal (Türk’ün Ateşle İmtihanı). Halide Edip Adıvar and Yunus Nadi wrote here the first texts of the National Struggle that were to be broadcast to the world as part of the initial activities of the Anadolu Agency.

On the first floor of the two-storey museum, visitors are introduced to Ankara as a crossroads of Anatolian civilizations through the stages it has gone through throughout history and the changes in its name, as well as to Seljuk-era Ankara, the period of the Ahis, and Ottoman-era Ankara. This floor also presents the days of occupation that began with the Armistice of Mondros, the efforts at civilian organization, and the story of the resistance of the people of Ankara.

In the large hall on the second floor, as a continuation of the civilian mobilization described downstairs, the museum narrates the arrival of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Ankara, the days of the National Struggle in Ankara, preparations for war, the work of the Military Ordnance Works (İmalat-ı Harbiye) in producing and transporting weapons to the front, and the story of victory from the Battle of Sakarya up to 30 August and the founding of the Republic.

Other rooms contain thematic displays. The balcony room has been recreated as the room where Halide Edip and Adnan Adıvar stayed. In the rooms dedicated to the women, tradespeople and notables of Ankara, the contributions of the people of Ankara during the National Struggle are presented separately.

Atatürk Ankara War of Independence Museum is a work of respect by Keçiören Municipality, dedicated in the 100th year of the Republic to the people of Ankara who gave their blood and lives for the Republic.

We remember with mercy and gratitude Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms, as well as all the people of Ankara who lived through those days.

Atatürk Ankara War of Independence Museum
Opening: 09:00 – Closing: 18:00

Our museum is closed on Sundays.

Click here for directions.