Index:
May 16-19, 1919 — an introduction: Atatürk’s journey to Samsun
Long and narrow: The Tobacco Pier (Tütün İskelesi) and the Path of Independence (Kurtuluş Yolu)
Collected remnants of May 19: Samsun museums
May 16-19, 1919, an introduction: — Atatürk’s journey to Samsun
May 19, 1919, one of the turning points in the history of the Republic of Türkiye, is one of the most precious days in the Turkish year. In fact, Atatürk himself dedicated the day to the youth of Türkiye and it is celebrated as “Youth and Sports Day”.
Let’s start with the story of the journey that started the epic tale of our country: The passenger-cargo vessel dubbed “Bandırma”, carrying Mustafa Kemal Pasha, the ship’s captain İsmail Hakkı Durusu and his 18 companions, departed from Galata on Friday, 16 May 1919 in the afternoon, on Monday; it docked at Kalyon Cape on May 19, 1919, arrives to Kalyon Cape. From there, the passengers were transferred by boat on to the Central Pier by boats. İsmail Yurtsever, the owner of one of these boats, later recorded the following statement about Atatürk: “I didn’t know Atatürk then. I saw him for the first time in a dinghy, and then in Samsun with a wide-collared legion cloak and a kalpac on his head.”
Atatürk is a soldier on duty during this journey and as such he was appropriately dressed in his uniform/; however, after a few days, he will prefer to act as a civilian, and made the choice to wear civilian clothing going forward.
And the story begins…
Now let’s embark on a new journey to this strategically significant port, Samsun, and take the May 19 route through the city, which refreshes the eye with its fertile soil. After first leaving you a link to a Samsun flight ticket link here, we are ready to start! Here are the historical places in Samsun you won’t want to miss…
Long and narrow: The Tobacco Pier (Tütün İskelesi) and the Path of Independence (Kurtuluş Yolu)
The Tobacco Pier, where Mustafa Kemal Pasha stepped into Samsun, has a great symbolic meaning. Tütün İskelesi, as it is known in the original, is where the first step of the National Struggle was also taken. The Mıntıka Palas Hotel of the period was located here, and the path to what is today’s Samsun Gazi Museum is also important walk to reproduce. For this reason, this protocol road, called “Kurtuluş Yolu (Part of Independence)” by Samsun Metropolitan Municipality, is undoubtedly the first among the historical trails to walk in Samsun. Factoid: The Path of Independence is 45 meters wide and exactly 400 meters long.
Everything you ever wanted to know about May 19, 1919: Samsun museums
Samsun Gazi Museum
Samsun Gazi Museum is the second stop on our list of historical places to visit in Samsun. The original name of the building, which was built as a hotel by Jean Ionnis in 1902, was the Mıntıka Palas Hotel: Mustafa Kemal stayed at this hotel when he traveled to Samsun.
Osman (Atli) Bey, who was the Muhasebe-i Hususiye (Private Accounting) Manager of Canik Liva at the time, described the preparations made for Mustafa Kemal Pasha to settle in the Mıntıka Palas Hotel as follows:
“I was the Accounting Director at Samsun at that time. One evening, Mr. Mutasarrif Ethem invited me to his house. ‘An inspection board acting under the chairmanship of a Pasha from İstanbul is headed here. They’ll be here on the eighteenth. Since he will be staying for a few days, let’s prepare a place for him and his entourage. We have been informed of this by the Ministry of Internal Affairs Department from İstanbul. Time is… as you know. Since we can’t ask for sacrifices from anyone, we will have to settle the matter between ourselves. You’re my hope. I need you to be occupied with this job as from tomorrow morning.’ he said to me.”
“I gave it a lot of thought all through the night. I immediately thought of the vacant Mıntıka Palas Hotel, located next to my house. The next morning, I made a deal with the owner of the building and arranged for him to open the hotel. I brought a cot from the military hospital, a bed and a quilt from home and neighbors. We also brought items such as tables, chairs and writing sets from the office and equipped the rooms, hall, and kitchen.” *
The building, which was gifted to Mustafa Kemal Pasha in the name of the people of Samsun in 1926, has been welcoming visitors in its new incarnation as the Samsun Gazi Museum since 8 November 1998. Nearly 200 artifacts from the period are exhibited in the museum, as are wax sculptures of the comrades-in-arms who set foot in the city together with Atatürk on May 19, 1919. Do not forget to inscribe the Gazi Museum at the very top of your route of historical places to visit in Samsun.
Bandırma Ferry and National Struggle Park Open-Air Museum
The Bandırma Ferry carrying Mustafa Kemal Pasha and his comrades-in-arms to Samsun is a ship engraved in both history and our memories and is far from an ordinary place to visit and pay respects.
A replica of the original Bandırma Ferry, erected on the square where Atatürk and his friends first set foot in Samsun, was opened to visitors in 2003. Atatürk’s belongings, tools and equipment are also on display in the Bandırma Ferry and National Struggle Park Open-Air Museum, as well as wax sculptures of Atatürk’s comrades-in-arms and crew members. As you explore, lend an ear: you’ll hear Atatürk’s favorite songs constantly echoing over the museum sound system.
Havza Atatürk House Museum
The first headquarters of the Great Leader, where he ignited the National Struggle, was the Mesudiye Hotel. The house, which was considered the most exclusive accommodation in Havza at that time, was allocated for a month to host the “Pasha” and his entourage. The building, which is open to visitors today as Havza Atatürk House Museum, has an important place among the historical places to visit in Samsun. The first circular of the National Struggle, documents, and correspondence regarding the start of the War of Independence, and many other details are exhibited in the Havza Atatürk House Museum, attracting significant attention from all visitors.
Sadi Tekkesi Kuvâ-yi Milliye Museum
Sheikh Sadi Tekkesi (Dervish Lodge), one of the first institutions to support the decision of the War of Independence in Anatolia, has an important place in the history of the National Struggle. There are also seven wax statues in the museum, which was restored by the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality and opened to the public in 2013 as the Sadi Lodge Kuvâ-yi Milliye Museum. The museum, located in İlkadım district, has a valuable place among the historical places to visit in Samsun.
Bronze commemorative monuments
The Statue of Honor
Atatürk Park in the İlkadım district of Samsun has the distinction of being the first public park in Samsun’s history. The hallmark of the park next to Republic Square is the Statue of Honor from the studio of the Australian sculptor Heinrich Krippel. The Statue of Honor, commissioned by the people of Samsun in 1927 and erected in 1932, is considered a landmark of the city. The bronze statue depicting equestrian Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in an equestrian pose boasts a pedestal 4.75 meters high and the total height of the monument reaches 8.85 meters. Do not forget leave enough time to relax in this beautiful park after visiting the Statue of Honor.
İlkadım Monument
Here we see the İlkadım Monument. This stop on our list of historical places to visit in Samsun features a monument created by sculptor Hakkı Atamulu between 1981-1982 to commemorate the centenary of Atatürk’s birthday. The sculpture is located on a reconstruction of the exact pier where “Pasha” first set foot in Samsun. Atatürk and his accompanying commanders are seen at the İlkadım Monument.
Sources
National Journal of Education, meb.gov.tr
Samsun Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, samsun.ktb.gov.tr
*Kulturportali.gov.tr
