Mehmet Akif Ersoy Memorial House History, Exhibits, Entrance Fee, and Visiting Hours

Mehmet Akif Ersoy, born in 1873 in Istanbul, is a significant figure in Turkish literature, particularly known for his contributions to poetry. He captured the major tragedies of the late Ottoman period with his unique style, awakening the national conscience, and has been revered as the “National Poet.” Starting his journey in national literature with “Safahat,” he embellished it with poems like “Çanakkale Şehitlerine” (To the Martyrs of Gallipoli) and the “İstiklal Marşı” (The National Anthem of Turkey), infusing a new spirit into the Turkish Nation. Mehmet Akif, who had spent a longing 11 years in Egypt as a guest of his friend Abbas Halim Pasha since 1925, returned to Istanbul in June 1936 in poor health. He resided in an apartment on the 4th floor of the Mısır Apartment on İstiklal Avenue, owned by Abbas Halim Pasha. Despite seeking treatment at the Nişantaşı Health Home Hospital and Alemdağ Farm, his health did not improve, and he passed away on December 27, 1936, in the Mısır Apartment.

There has been a long-standing public demand to turn this apartment in the Mısır Apartment into a museum. The museumization activities accelerated following Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s posthumous awarding of the Vefa Award at the Presidential Culture and Art Grand Prizes in 2018. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism completed the necessary expropriation procedures to convert the apartment into a museum. The Mehmet Akif Ersoy Memorial House was opened to visitors on March 12, 2021, marking the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the İstiklal Marşı.

The Mehmet Akif Memorial House includes the Mehmet Akif Library, Documentary Room, Poetry Room, and Exhibition Hall. The library gathers new publications related to Mehmet Akif. In the Documentary Room, a video wall system presents a documentary film about his life. The Poetry Room features samples of Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s poems. The Exhibition Hall displays information panels about his life, along with family photographs belonging to his granddaughter Selma Ergon, replicas of documents like his Ottoman-era population registration, diplomas, and personal items such as his glasses and watch.

The museum is located on İstiklal Avenue, Mısır Apartment, and the visiting hours vary with the season. For updated information, it’s recommended to visit the museum’s website.

Free admission.