Harbiye Military Museum where documents and proofs of military affairs bearing significant roles in world history are present, is one of the museums worth seeing in Istanbul...

The museum where periodical “Mehter (janissary band of musicians) concerts” are conducted was built as a Military Academy in 1841. The building served as a military academy until 1936 and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of Republic of Turkey was also studied in this school from 1899 to 1905.

The building was restored in 1966, turned into a modern military museum, preserving its historical and architectural character. In 1993, the Site of Culture and some other sections were added to the museum and it was opened for visitors in its present form. There are about five thousand artworks and artifacts on exhibition in the Military Museum. In its rich collection, there are various weapons, military clothes, tents, flags and banners along with other cultural assets. Among these cultural assets are wooden and metal rifles, pistols, cannons and swords which are finely embellished with decorations. In the museum there is a special section allocated to Atatürk that should be seen without fail. Also, there are illustrations for significant military events such as “the conquest of Istanbul”, “War of Independence”.

The Military Museum is open for visit everyday except for Monday and Tuesday, from 09.30 to 16.30. There is the “Mehter concert” from 15.00 to 16.00 everyday the museum is open.