Gaziantep museum draws millions with War of Independence story

Gaziantep’s Panorama 25 December Museum, which commemorates the city’s resistance during Türkiye’s War of Independence, continues to attract strong public interest, with nearly 1.5 million visitors recorded in the five years since it opened.

The museum was inaugurated in December 2020 by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and focuses on the Antep Defence of 1919 to 1921, a civilian-led struggle against French occupation forces. Through immersive displays, original documents, artworks and period artefacts, the museum presents a detailed account of the city’s role in the broader national fight for independence.

“This is not only Gaziantep’s story, but the story of Türkiye’s War of Independence,” said Bekir Sıtkı Severoğlu, chairman of the museum’s Historical Council. “What happened here a century ago — the destruction of hospitals and civilian areas — can still be seen today in places like Gaza and Ukraine. This museum is not about hatred, but about remembrance and conscience.”

Located in Gaziantep’s Seferpaşa neighbourhood, the Panorama 25 December Museum is organised into four main sections. Its centrepiece is a series of large-scale panoramic paintings created by Russian artist Alexander Samsonov, depicting key moments from the Antep Defence. The collection also includes weapons, personal belongings donated by veterans’ families and architectural fragments from buildings damaged during the conflict.

Museum officials say the site aims to preserve historical memory while highlighting the resilience of civilians during wartime. A new permanent hall dedicated to resistance commander Şahinbey’s military archives is scheduled to open later this year, marking the 104th anniversary of Gaziantep’s liberation.

Authorities say the continued interest from both domestic and international visitors reflects the museum’s role as a cultural landmark and an educational space linking past conflicts with contemporary global realities.

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