Collection size 4,979 | ||
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Established 1996; 21 years ago (1996) Location Anafartalar Cad. Eski Belediye 58, Balıkesir, Turkey Type Memorial House, archaeology, ethnography Owner Ministry of Culture and Tourism | ||
Museum of the Nationalist Forces in Balıkesir (Turkish: Balıkesir Kuva-yi Milliye Müzesi) is a museum in Balıkesir, Turkey dedicated to the irregular Kuva-yi Milliye (Nationalist Forces) formed as part of the Turkish National Movement during the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922.
Contents
Location and access
The museum is situated in Anafartalar Cad. 58 in Balıkesir. It is open everyday but Monday from 8:30 to 17:00 hours local time.
Background
The museum building was initially built as a mansion for Giridizade Mehmet Pasha,, treasurer of the Karasi Sanjak, in 1840. A new mansion was built on the same place by the treasurer's grandson Halil Pasha when it burnt down in 1900. During the Turkish War of Independence, the building served as the meeting point of the local nationalist forces. Right the next day of occupation of Smyrna on May 15, 1919, prominent citizens of Balıkesir gathered in this mansion and concluded the forming of Kuva-yi Milliye to fight against the foreign troops. It served also headquarters of the II Corps and Ali Hikmet Ayerdem.
From 1946 on, the building was used as the municipal hall of Balıkesir. The municipal council decided in 1985-86 to redevelop the building into a museum to honor the efforts of Kuva-yi Milliye. According to a protocol signed between the municipality and the governorship of Balıkesir, the right of the building's usage was transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism indefinitely.
Restoration works started after the appoinment of a museum director. The museum's opening took place on September 6, 1996. Following revision and reorganization of the museum's exhibition building and the exhibits, it was reopened on December 26, 2008.
Museum
The museum is housed in a two-story Ottoman building covering 120 m2 (1,300 sq ft) on each floor. It consists of two sections. On the ground floor, conclusion documents, photos and personal belongings of 41 citizens, who pioneered the forming of the Kuva-yi Milliye in Balıkesir, are on display. In addition, photos taken during Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's visit to the city on February 6, 1923 are exhibited. The upper floor is resrved for archaeological artifacts and ethnographic items found in and around Balıkesir are on display.
The museum has 4,979 collection items and around 45,500 objects for study.