Museum of the War of Independence (First Grand National Assembly building, Ulus)

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"The stone building where Turkey's first parliament met, housing the war's story."

Museum of the War of Independence (First Grand National Assembly building, Ulus), Ankara Overview

The Museum of the War of Independence occupies the original home of the first Turkish Grand National Assembly, a two-story stone building in Ulus that served as the wartime parliament from 1920, then a political party office and law school, before opening as a museum in 1961. Exhibits include the original assembly hall, period documents, weapons, uniforms, and photographs from the 1919-1923 War of Independence. Google reviewers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across roughly 5,950 reviews, making it one of Ankara's highest-rated sights. It closes daily at 4:30 pm.

Construction on the building began in 1915 for the Committee of Union and Progress; it became the seat of the first Turkish Grand National Assembly when the body convened here on 23 April 1920, serving as the legislative and command center through the War of Independence. After parliament relocated in 1924, the building housed the Republican People's Party and later a law school before opening as a museum on 23 April 1961; it was rededicated as the Museum of the War of Independence in 1981. Displays cover the original assembly chamber and wartime artifacts. It stands on Cumhuriyet Boulevard in Ulus, near the Second Grand National Assembly (Republic Museum) building and Ankara Citadel.