City Museum

History

Samsun City Museum operates in two historic buildings tied to the city's railway heritage. The main building was constructed in 1928 as the headquarters of the Samsun-Sivas Railway Construction and Operation Administration and a State Railways housing block; the adjoining building was completed in 1936 and served various purposes over the years. An initiative launched in 2007 by ÇEKÜL Foundation president Prof. Dr. Metin Sözen gained momentum after the 2011 Union of Historic Towns meeting held in Samsun, and following an eight-month restoration after the buildings were expropriated, the museum opened to visitors on 12 February 2013.

Exhibits

The museum displays documents and objects related to Samsun's social, historical, cultural, geographical and economic fabric, with sections devoted to notable Samsun natives, the city's chronological history and its long tobacco-growing tradition.

Visitor Information

Located on Cumhuriyet Caddesi in Zafer neighborhood, the museum is within walking distance of the city centre. In 2015 it was named one of Europe's six most prestigious museums by the European Museum Academy.