Will Istanbul ever have a city history museum?
ISTANBUL -- The Darphane-i Amire Building, which was given in 1995 to the History Foundation (Tarih Vakfı) for 49 years with the aim of founding an Istanbul city museum, was sealed due to risk of collapse.
The building has been a subject of dispute between the History Foundation and Culture Ministry. Based on a report from last year citing the building was seriously damaged, orders were given for the building to be evacuated by Feb. 22...
History Foundation Chairman of the Board Halim Bulutoğlu says...that the building was creaky and full of dirt when it was given to them, but that they restored it, preparing it for the Habitat Summit in a short period of 10 months...
Saying that Istanbul's history does not begin with the Ottomans, he adds the city's whole history dating back to the pre-Eastern Roman Empire will be exhibited in the museum...
Drawing attention to the fact that ghettos have formed in Istanbul, Bulutoğlu blames groups that do not understand or listen to each other for the recent troubling events. He believes that the problem grows every day and that it fuels micro-nationalism...
Bulutoğlu says it is very concerning that an important subject such as the city museum has become an issue of dispute. He emphasizes that they plan to realize the museum with an understanding free from all prejudices and political opinions, basing it entirely on scientific foundations...
Contacted for his opinion on this subject, Topkapı Palace Museum Director İlber Ortaylı says the History Foundation has been occupying the building for the past 10 years without having accomplished anything toward founding the city museum. He points out the fact that the building is under an increasing risk of collapse.
Read entire article at Turkish Daily News (Ankara)
The building has been a subject of dispute between the History Foundation and Culture Ministry. Based on a report from last year citing the building was seriously damaged, orders were given for the building to be evacuated by Feb. 22...
History Foundation Chairman of the Board Halim Bulutoğlu says...that the building was creaky and full of dirt when it was given to them, but that they restored it, preparing it for the Habitat Summit in a short period of 10 months...
Saying that Istanbul's history does not begin with the Ottomans, he adds the city's whole history dating back to the pre-Eastern Roman Empire will be exhibited in the museum...
Drawing attention to the fact that ghettos have formed in Istanbul, Bulutoğlu blames groups that do not understand or listen to each other for the recent troubling events. He believes that the problem grows every day and that it fuels micro-nationalism...
Bulutoğlu says it is very concerning that an important subject such as the city museum has become an issue of dispute. He emphasizes that they plan to realize the museum with an understanding free from all prejudices and political opinions, basing it entirely on scientific foundations...
Contacted for his opinion on this subject, Topkapı Palace Museum Director İlber Ortaylı says the History Foundation has been occupying the building for the past 10 years without having accomplished anything toward founding the city museum. He points out the fact that the building is under an increasing risk of collapse.