In a park by the Samsun shore, an old steamship sits as though it has just arrived. Step aboard and you are on the deck where the Turkish War of Independence began.

19 May 1919

Samsun is best known as the place where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk began the Turkish War of Independence. On 19 May 1919 the Bandırma ferry brought him and his 18 comrades here. The original ship was destroyed in 1925. An exact replica was made in 2001 and opened to visitors in 2003, run by Samsun Metropolitan Municipality.

The museum

The museum has two parts: the ship museum and the open-air National Struggle Park. Aboard, wax figures of Atatürk's comrades and the crew recreate the voyage, and there is a copy of the document showing that Atatürk adopted 19 May as his birthday. In the park stands the National Liberation Monument by Tankut Öktem.

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  The ship Exact replica.
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  Wax figures Atatürk's comrades and crew.
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  National Liberation Monument In the park.