The Military Museum (Askeri Müze) is spread out over two stories in the Mekteb-i Harbiye building, which was originally used to educate military officers during the Ottoman period. The Harbiye district, which means “military”, derives its name from the service buildings of this museum.
On the first floor visitors can find uniforms and weapons from diverse periods as well as many old battle flags from everywhere from the Byzantine to the Russian Empires. On the upper floor visitors find exhibits dedicated to the Gallipoli war and Atatürk. Military Museum and Cultural Center Command has approximately 55.000 objects in its inventory, 5.000 of which are displayed in the museum’s exhibition halls.
Performances by a traditional Janissary marching band, or Mehter, are also a feature of the museum. Mehteran company, the oldest band in the world, contributes to the promotion of our country through its concerts throughout the country and abroad. The performances by “Mehteran Company” can be watched in two separate sessions from 15:00 to 16:00 in days the museum is open.