Museum of the Tanzimat in Istanbul

Museum of the Tanzimat

Topkapı Palace, one of the most important buildings for Ottoman Empire ruled over the three continents, is located on the right while walking to Sultanahmet District of Istanbul from the tram street in Sirkeci. Gülhane Park, used as the garden of Topkapı Palace in ancient time, is located next to the Topkapı Palace.

Tanzimat Museum is placed in the Gülhane Park managed to stay green in the areas of Istanbul. Tanzimat Museum contains the artifacts of Tanzimat period which corresponds to the time of collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Tanzimat Museum firstly was established in a place called as “Linden Pavilion” in 1952. After a while, Linden Pavilion was taken back to the institution “National Palaces”, so Tanzimat Museum was closed. Then in 1969, the museum met with visitors again in a building of Beşiktaş District which called as “Tent Pavilion” within the boundaries of Star Park. In 1970, the museum was transferred to a building in Gülhane Park which was built for “Tanzimat Museum”. The museum has served since 1983.

What is the Tanzimat Edict?

“Tanzimat Edict”, known as “Gülhane Hatt-I Hümayunu” in ancient time, is a notification consisting in many state administration’s reforms planned that was read to the public after Sultan Abdülmecit became on the throne. Briefly, the bad situation of the state had been emphasizing and the ways to get rid of this route had been reported in the edict.

Which works are exhibited in the Tanzimat Museum?

As first the Tanzimat Edict read in Gülhane Park, paintings and etchings which belong to statesmen of the Ottoman Empire, foreign senior military and government officials are exhibited.

Also newspapers and magazines, belong to time of reading the Tanzimat Edict, are exhibited in the museum. In addition, lots of works are exhibited such as the first Ottoman Population Paper published in 1856, the diary of Namık Kemal.

Tanzimat Museum is also home to belongings of many statesmen such as uniforms, apparel from glassware and personal items. All works related to Tanzimat Period are acclaimed by local and foreign tourists who visit the museum.

You should visit Tanziman Museum absolutely for grasping Tanzimat Period including the signals of collapse of the Ottoman Empire.