The Military Museum is dedicated to one thousand years of Turkish military history. It is one of the leading museums of its kind in the world. The museum initially opened in Saint Irene Church. Later in 1950, it was moved to the First Army Headquarters building in Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Harbiye, not far from Taksim Square in Istanbul.

Harbiye district was the site of the Ottoman imperial military academy, the empire's "West Point" or "Sandhurst" and is still an important military installation. A fine collection of historical military displays are throughout the museum.

The military museum and culture center was renovated and reopened at its present building in 1993 with a very successful and contemporary exhibition concept. Today in 22 rooms about nine thousand pieces from the Ottoman era through World War II are exhibited, out of a total collection of fifty thousand objects. It holds striking historical treasures such as the chain that the Byzantines stretched across the mouth of the Golden Horn to keep out the Sultan's navy in 1453 during the siege of Constantinople. The east wing of the museum is used for temporary exhibitions and important meetings.

Our IADT Congress will be another important meeting hosted by the Istanbul Military Museum. Make plans today to join us.