Alaçam Population Exchange Museum

Turkey's First Exchange Museum

The Alaçam Population Exchange Museum is a themed ethnographic museum documenting the daily lives of exchangees who settled in Samsun following the 1923 Lausanne population exchange between Turkey and Greece — the first museum of its kind in Turkey.

Building and Restoration

The building was originally constructed as a primary school in the last quarter of the 19th century. After serving various institutions over the decades, it was restored and opened to the public in 2012.

Collection

Exhibits include hand-woven woolen items, textiles, kitchenware, photographs, letters and documents brought by the exchangees, reflecting the human side of the exchange and Samsun's multicultural past.

Visitor Information

Located roughly at the 55th kilometer of the Samsun-Sinop highway, in Alaçam's town center, the museum is run by Samsun Metropolitan Municipality and admission is free.