The chilling screams still linger. They echo from the walls of Ulucanlar Prison Museum. This isn’t just a museum. It’s a living testament to a dark chapter in Turkish history.
Ulucanlar Prison Museum in Ankara is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a place where the ghosts of political prisoners and common criminals alike still walk. It opened in 1925. It served as a maximum security prison. It housed dangerous criminals and high-profile detainees until its closure in 2006.
Imagine the weight of those walls. They witnessed decades of suffering. Intellectuals journalists poets writers politicians and activists were imprisoned for their beliefs. Their stories are etched into the very fabric of the building. The museum displays original graffiti and murals. These are haunting reminders of the lives lived within these walls. Each brushstroke a cry for freedom.
The “Hilton” a nickname given to the 9th and 10th wards was ironically considered more comfortable. It was smaller less crowded than the others. Here you’ll find the cells where Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and party leader Osman Bolckbasi once resided. Their stories along with many others are told in the museum.
The Isolation Ward was reserved for high-profile prisoners and those who broke rules. The cells were small. Iron doors sealed them off from the world. The sounds of torture echo through the loudspeakers a constant reminder of the brutality. It’s a visceral experience. You can almost feel the despair.
The 4th ward contains a small mosque a kitchen and dormitory. Wax figures recreate scenes of daily life. They are having tea playing music or reading. The 5th ward features more bunk beds and original murals painted by prisoners. It also contained a bathroom and kitchen.
The museum contains a film room. It showcases an old Turkish movie. It highlights the prison’s former use as a site for education and cultural activities.
In the 6th ward personal belongings of inmates are on display. There are cigarettes lighters eyeglasses teapots and IDs. A film projector and a piano also remain.
The dungeon is particularly chilling. Disciplinary cells are located here. They are small and underground. The word dungeon is fitting. Wax figures are used to recreate the inmates’ experiences.
The barber shop remains. The tools of the trade are still here. It’s a small detail yet it speaks volumes about daily life within the prison walls.
The main yard contains several buildings. There’s an infirmary a cafeteria and library. A laundry room and a hamam also remain. The visiting room contains booths for prisoners to meet family. And finally there’s the gallows. A grim reminder of the 19 prisoners executed between 1926 and 1982.
Ulucanlar Prison Museum is more than just a museum. It’s a powerful reminder of injustice and resilience. It is a place where history comes alive. It is a powerful experience. It is not easily forgotten.