Bandırma Ship and National Struggle Open-Air Museum

History

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his companions set sail from Istanbul on the Bandırma Ship on 16 May 1919 and reached Samsun on the morning of 19 May 1919. This voyage is regarded as the starting point of the Turkish War of Independence. The original vessel was decommissioned in 1925; the ship on display today is a faithful replica built to the original dimensions, completed in 2001 and opened to visitors as a museum in 2003.

Inside the Ship

Visitors can see the meeting room with wax figures of Mustafa Kemal Pasha and four companions, the captain's cabin, and a bedroom furnished with period items. A separate section displays documents and photographs from the War of Independence.

National Struggle Open-Air Museum

The surrounding coastal park features ceramic reliefs depicting the Battles of Gallipoli, a memorial wall listing soldiers from the region who lost their lives, and bronze sculpture groups symbolizing the spirit of the national struggle.

Visitor Information

• Location: Doğupark seafront, Canik / Samsun
• Both the museum ship and the outdoor park can be visited together
• One of Samsun's most recognizable landmarks