Sivas Congress and Ethnography Museum

Sivas Congress and Ethnography Museum

The Sivas Congress and Ethnography Museum, located on İnönü Boulevard in Sivas, is one of Turkey’s most historically significant museums. Surrounded by the medieval Şifahiye Medrese and Buruciye Medrese to its east, the museum stands at the heart of Sivas’s cultural and historical fabric.

The building was originally constructed in 1892 as a high school by Mehmet Mazlum Bey, the governor of Sivas at the time. Today, it preserves both the ethnographic heritage of the region and the memories of the Turkish War of Independence.

Ethnography Exhibits
The museum’s ethnography section presents a diverse collection that highlights the artistic and cultural traditions of Sivas:

Coins, calligraphy, and paintings, donated by Turan Türkeroğlu

A fine collection of Sivas rugs, renowned for their craftsmanship

A 12th-century wooden mimber (pulpit) from the Divriği Castle Mosque

Artifacts from the Divriği Ulu Mosque, one of Anatolia’s UNESCO World Heritage masterpieces

These items showcase the region’s artistic skills, religious architecture, and textile heritage.

Atatürk and the Congress Section
One of the museum’s most important parts is the section dedicated to the Sivas Congress, a turning point in Turkey’s path to independence. Visitors can explore:

The Congress Room, where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and national delegates met in 1919

The Telegraph Room, which was the only means of communication at the time

The Printing Room, where critical announcements and documents were produced

This section also displays copies of original documents from the Congress period, allowing visitors to step back into the atmosphere of 1919 when key decisions were made for the foundation of the Turkish Republic.

Cultural and Historical Significance
The Sivas Congress and Ethnography Museum offers a unique blend of ethnographic treasures and national history. It is both a repository of cultural identity and a symbol of independence, where visitors can experience the artistry of Sivas and relive the crucial moments of the Turkish War of Independence.

✨ A visit here is a journey into the soul of Anatolia—where tradition, culture, and history meet.