Erzurum congress building: A journey into "national struggle" era

The congress building, located on Kongre street in the Yakutiye district, was allocated as the Painting and Sculpture Museum to the General Directorate of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2016. It is situated on a 6,146 square meter area. In the congress building, where important decisions were made during the National Struggle period, there are two rooms allocated for the use of individuals and legal entities working in the fields of painting, sculpture, photography, and ceramics, within the framework of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Periodic Use Regulations. The museum, which hosted 16,186 visitors in the first six months of the year, offers free admission to teachers, students, relatives of martyrs and veterans, and citizens over the age of 65. The museum's inventory includes 236 works, including 217 paintings, 3 sculptures, 8 ceramics, and 8 original prints. Visitors touring the hall where the Erzurum Congress, which made significant decisions under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, took place, have the opportunity to listen to historians' narratives of the congress meeting and learn about the events of the National Struggle era firsthand. A 56-year-old visitor named Ayhan Özköse, who came from Istanbul, told that the exhibited artifacts in the museum hold great importance for Turkish history and culture. He recalled that the decision of the War of Independence was made at the Erzurum Congress and expressed admiration for the museum, its artifacts, and its excellent maintenance. He praised the museum's equipment and design, stating that he visits his homeland every year and always makes sure to tour this place and other historical sites in Erzurum.