Galatasaray Müzesi

Galatasaray Museum was founded in 1915 by Ali Sami Yen. In the section about the museum in the book published in 1955 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Galatasaray Sports Club, the founding of the museum is conveyed from Ali Sami Yen’s own memoirs as follows.

“At one time, in order to win first place in the inspections carried out by the naval society, we worked with all our strength and also used all our personal means for this cause. At that time, since I often went around the caulking place for the completion of the yacht’s deficiencies, one day I managed to buy a deep-water sounding lead sold by an old sailor for 15 kuruş. It was a very old, outdated instrument. But as I cleaned and polished it, it displayed itself on the table in our seamanship room. The desire to bring a second instrument beside it gradually led to the emergence of our maritime museum. We also obtained from the then Minister of the Navy, Cemal Paşa, the instruments that we were unable to acquire by our own means and who wanted to encourage us. On that date, we had moved the club center from Beyoğlu to Kalamış Koyu. I also brought to the club the sports pictures I had collected for myself at home. We had provided three display cases for our existing cups. When the mementos of sea and land sports were brought together, its attraction grew, and in this way Galatasaray Museum gradually emerged.”

In the museum, which Ali Sami Yen created in 1915 in the Club Locali in Kalamış and which had the quality of Turkey’s first sports museum, the cups won up to that time and maritime equipment were exhibited. However, after the war, when this museum building was seized by the British, Ali Sami Yen delivered all the materials in this first museum to the then high school principal Salih Arif Bey. The decision was taken by the General Assembly decision dated 15 May 1919. Thus, Galatasaray Museum came to its place in the high school, where it would remain for many years. Nowadays, the museum has been opened to visitors in the historic Postane Binası opposite the high school under the name Galatasaray University Culture and Art Center.

On the first floor of the center, the story of Galatasaray High School from its foundation to the present day; many objects and photographs such as students’ uniforms and the instruments they used in classes are displayed; on the second floor, there are the story of Galatasaray Sports Club from its foundation to the present day, some of the cups won since 1905, Metin Oktay's jersey, and many photographs and sports objects. In addition, from the cup from which Atatürk drank coffee when he visited Galatasaray High School, to his signed photograph, to the UEFA Cup won in 2000 and the Super Cup, there are important documents and objects in the history of Galatasaray High School and the Club.

Places to Visit in Istanbul Address: Huzur Mh., Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi, 34396 Sarıyer, İstanbul