Naval Museum

 

 

 

 

 

The Naval Museum involves important works and documents regarding Turkish naval history. It is one of the most important museums in the world as of its variety of collections.

The foundations of the Naval Museum, the first military museum established in Turkey was laid in 1897 by Bahriye Nazırı (Minister of Navy) Hüseyin Hüsnü Paşa of Bozcaada. Until 1960, the place of the museum have been changed several times. Now, it is servicing at the place of previous Beşiktaş Tax Office.

The most interesting part of the museum is "Historical Boats Gallery". The Ottoman sultanate boats, being unique in the world, are exhibited in their original forms and the most valuable piece of the collection is the tenezzuh galley which belonged to Mehmed IV from 1648–1687.

In the garden of the museum, which was designed as an open exhibition area, three wall maps together with Piri Reis map's mosaic reproduction displaying the borders of the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire, the busts of the famous Turkish seamen, original mines which are not affected by weather conditions, torpidos and ancient inscriptions belonged to naval institutions are exhibited. The invaluable drawings of Hüsnü Tengüz, Ivan Kosntantinvich Aivazovski and Fausto Zonaro are among the pieces of work that must surely be seen in the museum.

Except for Mondays and Tuesdays, the museum can be visited on other days from 09.00 to 17.30.