Bursa - Ataturk Museum

Bursa - Atatürk Museum is in Cekirge, in the garden of Celik Palas.

Atatürk had come to Bursa 13 times on various dates. If we calculate the gene days in Bursa, where he comes to rest most of the time, it takes 2 months, 20 days and 4 hours in total. Bursa is one of our lucky cities in this respect. After Istanbul (including Yalova), Ankara, Izmir and Sivas, Atatürk mostly stays in Bursa.

Atatürk's first arrival in Bursa coincides with the date of 16 October 1922, right after the Great Victory. In Bursa, where he stayed for 12 days at that time, İsmet (İnönü), Fevzi (Çakmak), Kazım (Özalp) were hosted in the Hünkar Mansion together with the pashas. Later, when he came to Bursa for the second time on January 20, 1923, he stayed in the Kiosk, which is now the Atatürk Museum and known as the Atatürk Mansion. Until that day, Miralay Mehmet Bey lived in this Mansion, located next to the Çelik Palas in Çekirge. In the days when Atatürk would come to Bursa, Bursa Municipality had bought this Mansion from its owner, furnished it and presented it to Atatürk. Now Atatürk had a mansion in Bursa and Atatürk was staying in his own mansion.

Atatürk came to Bursa again on 31 August 1924, one day after the second anniversary ceremonies of the Great Victory held in Dumlupınar. This time, his wife, Latife Hanım, was with him. He went straight to his own Mansion. He settled down with his wife. Latife Hanım liked the mansion very much. They rested in the mansion for 12 days.

After that, Atatürk came to Bursa 10 more times. Long and short periods remained. He stays in this mansion in Çekirge every time he comes. Most of the time he held his meetings in the Köşk. His last visit was on February 1, 1938, he had opened the Hotel Termal in Yalova. With him were Prime Minister Celal Bayar, Minister of Interior Şükrü Kaya, Minister of Public Works Ali Çetinkaya, Minister of Economy Şakir Kesebir, General Fahrettin Altay and Ali Fuat Cebesoy. That day, Bursa residents saw Atatürk without joy for the first time. His face was pale, his discomfort was evident in every way. Atatürk went directly to Çelik Palas, which was completed and put into operation. He retired to his private quarters. The next day, there was the opening ceremony of the Sümerbank Merino Factory. After attending the ceremony and putting the Factory into operation, Bursa Mayor Neşet Kiper' He handed me a letter. In the letter, Atatürk thanked the people of Bursa for the love and devotion they showed towards him, and wrote that he donated the Mansion that Bursa residents gave him as a gift to the Municipality with his share in Çelik Palas. The Mayor read this letter that day. The hall was moaning with applause.

Atatürk could not come to Bursa anymore.

After Atatürk's death, Bursa Atatürk mansion was transferred to the Pension Fund as an additional building of Çelik Palas. It was repaired in 1965 to be opened to visitors as (Atatürk Museum) later on. After the repair, it was transferred to the Ministry of Education. In 1973, it was opened to visitors under the name (Atatürk Museum).

Bursa Atatürk Mansion, located in a large garden, has 3 floors with its roof. The hall and rooms on the first floor are exhibited today with Atatürk's paintings and items used by Atatürk. On the second floor, there is Atatürk's bedroom, study hall and bathroom. Most of the items here belong to Atatürk's time. The third floor is used as a guest house.

Bursa Atatürk Mansion also adorns Bursa as an outstanding example of the late-era Mansion architecture.

Source:A A M, Atatürk Evleri Atatürk Müzeleri, Mehmet Önder, Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi 1993. ISBN: 975-16-0077-4. Sayfa:31-33