Ankara - II. Turkish Grand National Assembly Museum of the Republic 

The building, designed by architect Vedat Tek (1873-1942) and built as the Republican People's Party Headquarters in 1923, was later converted to function as the Assembly building. The two-storey building also has a basement floor. The centrally located two-storey high main assembly hall is surrounded by rooms on three sides. The main entrance hall, which stretches all along the entry facade, has two grand stairs at opposite ends and its ceiling is decorated with Seljuk and Ottoman ornaments and patterns. The main assembly hall, with audience boxes arranged in sections within, is also decorated in a similar style. Its star patterned timber ceiling, arcs, cornices and many sections with mosaic decorations, except the crown door and a few other items, which are included into the main hall afterwards, reflect the architectural characteristics of its time. 

I. Turkish Grand National Assembly building, in spite of some alterations made later, was inadequate to satisfy the growing needs of the Assembly of the Turkish Republic. That is why the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly was built and opened on 18 October 1924. 

II. Turkish Grand National Assembly is an important building in which Atatürk’s principals and reforms came to life, the most important decisions taken on the way to develop the new Republic by contemporary legislation, also where the international treaties and agreements made to increase Turkey's prestige and activities in the international arena and the transition to a multiple party system took place between 1924 - 1960. II. Turkish Grand National Assembly played an important role in Turkish political history for a period of 36 years until 27 May 1960. After moving the Assembly to its new modern building in 1961, the building was allotted to the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). The building functioned as the headquarters of CENTO between the years 1961 and 1979 and after the abolishing of CENTO in the same year, it was transferred to the Ministry of Culture. The decision was made to arrange the front section of the building as the Museum of the Republic and the rear section as the administration building for the the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums. The museum section, after refurbishment and restorations, opened to public exhibition on 30 October 1981 as “Museum of the Republic”. It functioned with this arrangement until 1985. This same year it was closed to public and new restoration work started. The work continued until 1991 and in January 1992 the museum reopened to public. The events comprising the era of the first three presidents of the Republic are presented by their own words, speeches, photos and personal items and also the decisions taken and the laws passed by the Grand Assembly during the same period are on display in this museum. 

Sections of the Museum 

First Room on the Right Side of the Corridor 

This room, originally the Accountancy Room of the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly, today is called “Atatürk's Principles Room”. Atatürk’s Republican, Nationalist, Populist, Statist, Secularist and Reformist principals are presented by his own words and photos through illuminated panels in this room. 
Second Room on the Right Side of the Corridor 

What originally was the prayer room of the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly, today is “Atatürk’s Reforms Room”. The Constitution, establishment of new laws, dress and attire reforms, international calendar, time and measurements, new Turkish Alphabet, surname law, Great Speech, X. Year Speech, Turkish Aviation Society; railways, economy, industry and events related to Atatürk’s reforms, legislation proposals, laws, newspaper clips, Atatürk’s words and photos, items related to above subjects are exhibited in this room through illuminated panels and showcases. 
Third Room on the Right Side of the Entrance 

Originally used as “Legal Proceedings Secretariat” room during the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly, it is today “Atatürk Room.” Atatürk's signatures and handwritings of his own words and speeches, abolishing of religious orders and cells, establishment of the Turkish Historical and Turkish Language Societies, foreign policy, Montreux Agreement of Turkish Straits, agriculture, archeology and fine arts, granting the Turkish women’s suffrage and the events about Atatürk’s death, are presented by illuminated panels and showcases. Some of Atatürk’s personal belongings are also displayed in this room. 

First Room on the Left Side of the Entrance 

During the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly this room was used as “Legislation Secretariat Room.” Today in this room, III. President of the Republic Mahmut Celal Bayar's life and events between 1950 and 1960 are presented in his own words and photographs. Some of his personal belongings, donated to the museum by his family, are also displayed in this room. 

Second Room on the Left Side of the Entrance 
Originally used as “Board of Directors Room” or “Administrative Committee Room” during the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly period. Today it is being used to display banknotes and coins, stamps, memorial coins and medals which were put into circulation since the founding of the Republic. 
Third Room on the Left Side of the Entrance 

Originally used as “Archives Secretariat Room” during the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly period. Today it is being used to display the II. President of the Republic, Ismet Inönü's life and events between 1938 and 1950 in his own words and photographs. Some of his personal belongings, donated to the museum by his family, are also on display in this room. 

Main Assembly Hall 

The General Assembly Hall of the Second Turkish Grand National Assembly period has a very important place in the history of the Turkish Republic. From the very first days of the Republic, this hall had been the centre stage of all the speeches, decisions taken to materialize the great enterprises of the nation. The Assembly’s presidential pulpit is located at the centre between the main entries of the hall.The entries are for the Ambassadors’ lodges and the Honourable Presidential lodge is on the left side and the audience and press boxes are at the back of the hall. In this hall that the number of members of parliaments at times had been up to 610, between 1924 - 1960. 

In order to achieve the present day modern museum exhibition, and for the better education of the visitors, live presentation techniques are used, the natural environment preserved and wax statues are made for this purpose. Atatürk’s Great Speech, given on 15 - 20 October 1927, the most important document and the source of the history of the Turkish Republic, starting from the Independence War, is presented in this hall. Important passages of the speech are also narrated by the actors of the State Theatre to support the live presentation. 
The Great Speech is the most important source of our political and military history, and also the most mature and beautiful example of Turkish oratory art. 
This Speech is a first hand account of Rebirth of the Nation, Independence War and the first years of the Republic (1919 - 1927) based on documents and sources in great detail. 

Love of the Nation, respects to the humanity and understanding of morality are the basics of this speech. Atatürk says “The day I arrived in Samsun in May 1919, I had no power in my hands, only highest spiritual power filling my conscience stemming from the nobility of the Turkish Nation. Trusting only in this power and in the Turkish Nation I started this noble mission.” 

This building was converted to a museum after being transferred to the Ministry of Culture after having functioned as the Turkish Grand National Assembly until 1960. Today in this museum, besides the routine exhibitions, occasional exhibitions, video shows and serial conferences take place in order to introduce the Independence War, the Republic and Atatürk to the visitors, especially to the young generation. 

Second Floor of the Museum 
During the II. Turkish Grand National Assembly the second floor rooms were Presidential Room, Presidential Reception Room where the President received the foreign and Turkish statesmen, President’s Private Secretary’s Room, Prime Minister and Cabinet Rooms, Assembly Chairman’s Room, Assembly Chairman's Private Secretary's Room and Committee Room. However, the functions of the rooms were altered from time to time according to the changing conditions. 

Address: Cumhuriyet Avenue, Ulus / Ankara 

Telephone: +90 (312) 311 04 73

Ankara - Gordion Museum

GORDION MUSEUM

Established near a small village with a population of 500, known as Yassıhöyük, in 1963. Today there is a chronological exhibition in Gordion Museum and every period is represented with characteristic examples. In three exhibition vitrines there are works of the the Early Bronze Age and these are followed by artefacts of the Early Phrygian Period, which ended with King Midas. The objects that are exhibited include: handmade pots and pans belonging to the Early Iron Age, iron equipment belonging to the Early Phyrigian Period, and equipment of textile production. In the new exhibition gallery, a typical structure of layers of ruins dated 700 B.C. within a panoramic window. Greek ceramics imported in the ages 6 B.C.-4 A.C. and materials belonging to the Hellenistic Age and Roman periods are exhibited in the other parts of the new gallery. The visitors are able to see the examples of seals and coins that were found in Gordian in the last section.

The Development of the Museum

The increase in the number of the visitors to Gordion Museum in the last years has led to new arrangements being made. Within these studies, the main structures to be listed are the 180 m2 storage building, 150 m2 additional exhibition gallery, 30 m2 laboratory, 35 m2 gallery of visual information and 5000 m2 open exhibition area.

The area that has been recently excavated has been afforested with the saplings that the Phyrigians used in their furnishings such as cedar, scented juniper, boxwood, yellow pine, walnut and yew tress.
The Roman Mosaic and the Galatian Tomb that have been transferred to this new area, it is to be considered as a part of the studies carried out.
Phrygian Monumental Tombs 

The Gordian region is surrounded with monumental tombs of various sizes dating from the last quarter of 8th century B.C. to the Middle of 6th century B.C. Monumental tombs are the tombs of the nobles and leading people of Phyrigia. The monumental tomb known as the Midas Monumental Tomb, 300 m. in diameter and of 55 m. height, has a magnificent appearance. The excavation of the Midas Monumental Tomb was carried out in 1957 and the findings were presented to the public in 1960 with the completion of the construction of concrete support by the excellent Turkish engineering.

Kayabaşı mosaic

The Roman Period mosaic, dated the 3rd century A.D., which was found during a digging of a foundation in the village of Kayabaşı of Polatlı in 1989, was reported by the owner of the building to the Museum of Anatolion Civilizations and the excavations were completed within that year. The mosaic, which couldn’t be transferred because of the lack of space, was carried successfully to the garden of Gordion Museum in 1999, and was also mounted within a semi-enclosed place. There are animal motives in the center of the mosaic and geometric ornamentation around the mosaic with a size of 6,60x7,70 m. Conservation and restoration studies continue.

The Galatian tomb “Monumental Tomb O”

The tomb, which was found in an unlicensed excavation in 1954, was named by the Gordian Excavation Group as the “O” Monumental Tomb. The monument was exposed to destruction by humans and nature at the end of the half-century. The monumental work was saved from disappearance on the intervention of the Ministry of Culture. After numbering the stone blocks, drawings of which have been made by museum experts, they were transferred to the new garden of the Gordion Museum. The tomb, which will be built again in the near future, will be presented for all humanity to see.

The settlement of Ancient Gordion

The capital of the Kingdom of Phrygia, the ruins of the famous city of Gordion; are near the Ankara-Eskişehir highway and at the point upon which the Sangorios and Porsuk rivers converge and 18 km to the northwest of Polatlı. The discoveries made during German and American excavations and that were introduced in various publications, let us date the settlement back to the Early Bronze Age (3000 B.C.).

Although Gordion was destroyed by the Kimmers in the beginning of 7th century B.C., it experienced its most successful period between 750-700 B.C. Many foundations and the monumental tombs in the settlement prove that the occupation lasted until the end of the 6th century. But Gordion was governed by Persians (beginning from the middle of 6th century B.C.) until Alexander the Great restored the city and it retained its independence.

The famous knot tied by King Gordion was cut by Alexander the Great in Gordion, where he stayed during the winter of 333 B.C.

The Hellenistic Period started in Gordion after the conquest of the city by Alexander the Great (300-100 B.C.). Then the Roman Period (1 B.C. – 4 B.C.) and the Seljuk period (1100-1300 A.D.) started. All of this happened in Gordion in a short period of more than 400 years.

GORDION MUSEUM
1. Exhibition gallery

2. New-Exhibition gallery

3. Phyrigian Mosaic

4. Administration Bureau

5. W.C.

6. Storage

7. Laboratory

8. Roman Mosaic

9. Galatian Tomb

10. House (Residence)

11. House (Residence)