Osman Hamdi Bey Museumvisitor guide.

OSMAN HAMDİ BEY MUSEUM Located in Eskihisar Neighborhood, Gebze District, Kocaeli Province, the museum forms an integrated ensemble with its woodland grounds perched upon sloping terrain dominating the harbor pier. The two-story residence was designed and built in 1884 by Osman Hamdi Bey (1842–1910), the pioneer of Turkish museology and celebrated painter, encompassing his art studio, boathouse, and outbuildings. Where Osman Hamdi Bey spent summer months for 26 years creating his most magnificent masterpieces, the mansion was assigned as military headquarters command during World War I. İsmet İnönü stayed here for several days en route to the War of Independence, later revisiting the residence in 1933. In 1945, the timber upper floor of the atelier burned; the grove and buildings were registered in 1966, opening to the public as the Osman Hamdi Bey Museum in 1987 after restoration. Osman Hamdi Bey Mansion, Studio, Boathouse, and outbuildings faithfully reflect the original architecture of their construction. In addition, floral paintings on the wooden entrance doors of the mansion were painted by Osman Hamdi Bey himself and are regarded as valuable as his finest canvas paintings. The mansion, studio, boathouse, and outbuildings were allocated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2021, scheduled to reopen to visitors following restoration and exhibition works.