The War of Independence Museum in Ankara: Inside the First Turkish Parliament

In Ankara’s Ulus district, among busy streets and modern buildings, stands a modest two-storey structure. Its stone walls and simple roof do not immediately suggest that it witnessed some of the most consequential decisions in modern Turkish history.

Yet this is the War of Independence Museum, housed in the building where the Turkish Grand National Assembly first convened on 23 April 1920.

It was more than a meeting place. During a period of war and uncertainty, representatives gathered here to debate the country’s future, direct the struggle for independence and lay the foundations of a new political order.

A Half-Finished Building Becomes the Seat of Parliament

The building’s story began before the first parliamentary session. Originally planned as a clubhouse for the Committee of Union and Progress, its construction started in the 1910s. War, shortages of building materials and political upheaval left parts of the structure unfinished.

After Istanbul was formally occupied on 16 March 1920, plans were made to convene a new assembly in Ankara. Finding a suitable building at such a difficult time was not easy, so the unfinished structure was chosen and completed for parliamentary use.

Local people helped bring it into service. Residents contributed roof tiles, while soldiers and local organisations supported the work. A building that had begun as an incomplete political clubhouse became the home of a parliament facing the immense task of determining the country’s future.

Remember this when you walk through its rooms: the building was completed not simply with stone and tiles, but through the efforts of people trying to shape a shared future under extraordinary circumstances.

23 April 1920: The First Session

The Turkish Grand National Assembly opened here on 23 April 1920. Its first session brought together 115 representatives. The opening address was delivered by Şerif Bey, a deputy from Sinop who presided temporarily as the oldest member. Mustafa Kemal Pasha was elected Speaker at the following session, on 24 April.

The Assembly was not merely a place for speeches. During the War of Independence, it became the centre of decisions about the conduct of the struggle and the political foundations of a new state.

Major milestones connected with the first Assembly included the adoption of the 1921 Constitution, the acceptance of the Turkish national anthem, the abolition of the sultanate, Ankara’s designation as the capital and the proclamation of the Republic.

Reading these events in a book is one experience. Standing inside the rooms where representatives worked is another. Here, history becomes tangible: the modest scale of the building and the objects on display offer a sense of the conditions in which these decisions were made.

The Rooms and the Stories They Hold

As you explore the museum, look beyond the major dates. Documents, personal objects and period equipment help reveal how the Assembly operated in its early years.

The Şer’iye Encümeni Room, associated with legislative committee work, presents material connected with the legal and constitutional foundations of the new state. The formation of a country required more than military resistance. Laws had to be discussed, written and approved.

The Presidency Council Room was associated with the Assembly’s administration. In the building’s early days, limited space meant that rooms could serve several functions. Photographs and objects displayed here help visitors imagine an institution still developing under pressure.

The collection also includes personal belongings associated with members of parliament, medals, communication equipment, documents and paintings. Take a closer look at the old communications devices. Information could not travel with the speed we take for granted today; sharing news and coordinating decisions demanded time and effort.

Architecture: The Character of Ankara Stone

The building is regarded as an early Ankara example of the First National Architectural Movement. Its local andesite stone gives the exterior a restrained, solid appearance.

Do not expect the grandeur of an imperial palace. The building’s significance lies less in architectural spectacle than in what happened within its walls. Its relatively modest rooms reflect the practical conditions under which the first Assembly worked.

Eventually, the building could no longer meet the Assembly’s needs. Parliament moved to its second building on 15 October 1924. The original structure later served other purposes before opening as a museum on 23 April 1961. It received the name War of Independence Museum in 1981.

Planning Your Visit

The museum is on Cumhuriyet Caddesi in Ankara’s historic Ulus district, making it a convenient stop on a day exploring the city’s early Republican and Ottoman-era landmarks.

• Address: Hacıbayram Mahallesi, Cumhuriyet Caddesi No. 2/1, Ulus, Altındağ, Ankara.
• Suggested visit time: Allow around 45–60 minutes to explore the rooms and displays without rushing.
• Public transport: Ulus metro station and nearby bus stops are within walking distance.
• Weekly closure: Official information lists Monday as the regular closing day.
• Opening hours: Published official hours are 09:00–18:00 in summer and 09:00–17:00 in winter. Ticket-office closing times are earlier.
• Admission: The official museum information lists the Museum Pass system. Confirm current prices and eligibility before your visit, as arrangements can change.

For a fuller understanding of Ankara’s parliamentary history, combine this visit with the Republic Museum in the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly building. The first building evokes the struggle for independence and the decisions that established the new state; the second continues the story into the early years of the Republic.

More Than an Old Parliament Building

When you leave the War of Independence Museum, think about more than its stone walls. Decisions made here helped determine the future of a country, under circumstances very different from those of today.

Sometimes, understanding a nation’s story does not require standing before its largest monument. It can begin in a modest room where people once gathered, debated and tried to take their future into their own hands.