--- title: Caucasus Front War History Museum slug: caucasus-front-war-history-museum-4bf13 url: /detay/caucasus-front-war-history-museum-4bf13 type: article language: English entity: primary: Caucasus Front War History Museum type: article disambiguation: Explore Kars's Caucasus Front War History Museum. Discover Ottoman history & WWI artifacts. categories: - name: Travel And Tourism slug: seyahat-ve-turizm url: /kategori/seyahat-ve-turizm - name: History slug: tarih url: /kategori/tarih tags: - CaucasianFront - WarHistoryMuseum - KarsMuseum - BloodyBattle - Ottoman-Russian Wars - War of Independence - Restoration author: Ahsen Güneş created_at: 2025-08-16T14:11:09.286076+03:00 updated_at: 2025-08-22T14:01:22.502152+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/08/16/w2J9sGRbFQypVJfcSh3OAYK8khPf8C6R.webp --- # Caucasus Front War History Museum ## KURE Information Cards ![20191014114455933_Kafkas Cephesi Harp Tarihi Muzesi 13.jpg](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/08/16/3PAi8Nfm0BHbfHJDBHauMDIjVAEzTbF4.jpg) | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Highlight | Named “Kanlı Tabya” due to the battalion martyred during the 1828 raid | | Museum Type | Military History and Cultural Heritage Museum | | Affiliated Institution | Ministry of Culture and Tourism / Kars Museum Directorate | | Construction Year | 1803 (Kanlı Tabya, Sultan Selim III period) | | Establishment Year | 2017 (museum opening) | | Area(s)(Text) | 29,000 m² (outdoor area),7,200 m² (indoor area),1,819.32 m² (land) | | Location | Örnek Mahallesi,Türkiye,Central / Kars | ## Article Content Caucasus Front War History Museum is located in Kars, Türkiye. It was established by restoring Kanlı Tabya, one of the fortifications built by the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century to defend the eastern borders. The museum operates under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and has been functioning as a unit affiliated with the Kars Museum Directorate since 2017. ### **Location and Area** The museum is situated in **Örnek Mahallesi**, Central district, **Kars**, on parcel 476, plot 514. The registered cultural property covers an area of 29,819.32 square meters. The museum has 1,200 m² of indoor exhibition space and 7,000 m² of outdoor exhibition area. ![Image](https://cdn.kureansiklopedi.com/media/uploads/2025/04/19/Y4WvsWOHPn8Qbi05xsjhRTRNQXybs86L.png) *Caucasus Front War History Museum (Culture Portal)* ### **History** Kanlı Tabya was constructed in 1803 during the reign of Sultan Selim III, originally named “Yeni Tabya.” The name “Kanlı Tabya” (“Bloody Fort”) was given by locals after a night raid by the Russian army in 1828, during which an entire battalion stationed there was martyred. It was actively used in 19th-century defenses in Kars against Russian forces, especially during the 1828 Russian assault, the 1855 Kars Victory, and the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War. After the 1855 Kars Victory, Sultan Abdülmecid issued 3,000 Kars Medals, which were sent to the city. ### **Restoration and Museum Conversion Process** The restoration tender was held by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on 09.07.2012, and restoration work began. As a result, the fortification building was repurposed and converted into a museum. The museum officially opened as a unit affiliated with the Kars Museum Directorate with the approval document dated 30.09.2017, number E.198488. ### **Exhibition Areas and Sections** **War Installation Room** A section symbolizing the farewell of martyrs to eternity and visually reflecting the atmosphere of war. **Historical Documents Room** Original documents, photographs, and archival materials related to military operations, battles, and developments at the Caucasus Front are displayed. **Laments and Letters Section** Letters written by soldiers on the front lines and laments composed during the war are exhibited. **Martyrs’ Path** A symbolic walking route dedicated to soldiers who lost their lives during the **Sarıkamış Operation**. **Living Quarters (Reenactment Rooms)** Sections recreated with silicone figures to reflect the daily life of soldiers at the front, including: - Infirmary - Operating Room - Barracks - Kitchen ![Image](https://cdn.kureansiklopedi.com/media/uploads/2025/04/19/BHSd5jodYl7MbZ1meRHvSBHRvqmSRqie.png) *Some important events are displayed interactively in the museum (Culture Portal)* **Museum Collection Section** Ethnographic artifacts from the Ottoman and early Republic periods, carrying movable cultural heritage significance, are exhibited. **Snow Installation** A special installation created to commemorate soldiers who froze to death under the snow during the **Sarıkamış Operation**. **Interactive Area** An area with informational kiosks where visitors can obtain knowledge through digital interaction. **Introduction Hall** Display panels related to significant military and local figures who served at the Caucasus Front. Notable figures include: - Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk - Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Paşa - Kazım Karabekir Paşa - Halit Paşa - Cihangiroğlu İbrahim Bey - Kurt İsmail Paşa ![Image](https://cdn.kureansiklopedi.com/media/uploads/2025/04/19/SItDeviSxYuOPmfQ58f1Bo8tEwuYM6j0.png) *Exhibited Items in the Museum ( Anadolu Agency)* ### **White Wagon** The “White Wagon” displayed in the museum garden was gifted to 15th Corps Commander Kazım Karabekir Paşa by the Russian military delegation visiting Kars for the Kars Treaty negotiations on October 13, 1921. Kazım Karabekir Paşa used this wagon throughout his corps command along the Kars-Erzurum line. White Wagon (Source: Culture Portal) ### **Significance and Mission** The Caucasus Front War History Museum was established to preserve the memory of important military events in Kars and its surroundings, protect cultural heritage, and convey the conditions of the period to visitors. In Kars, the province with the most fortifications in Türkiye, transforming Kanlı Tabya, a historic defensive structure, into a museum raises historical awareness and keeps the memory of martyrs alive. ## Academic Sources and References 1. Anadolu Agency. “Caucasus Front War History Museum Takes Visitors on a Historical Journey.” aa.com.tr. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/pg/foto-galeri/kafkas-cephesi-harp-tarihi-muzesi-tarihi-yolculuga-cikariyor. 2. Kars Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism. “Caucasus Front War History Museum.” kars.ktb.gov.tr. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://kars.ktb.gov.tr/TR-288186/kafkas-cephesi-harp-tarihi-muzesi.html. 3. Ministry of Culture and Tourism. “Caucasus Front War History Museum.” Türkiye. Culture Portal. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/kars/gezilecekyer/kafkas-cephesi-harp-tarihi-muzesi. 4. Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Caucasus Front War History Museum Brochure. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://muze.gov.tr/s3/MysFileLibrary/Kars%20Kafkas%20Cephesi%20Harp%20Tarihi%20M%C3%BCzesi-8a938208-ef9c-41be-999f-9cfce60db7c3.pdf. 5. Turkish Museum Portal. “Kars Caucasus Front War History Museum.” turkishmuseums.kprod.kultur.gov.tr. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://turkishmuseums.kprod.kultur.gov.tr/museum/detail/2106-kars-kafkas-cephesi-harp-tarihi-muzesi/2106/1. 6. Turkish Museum Portal. “Kars Caucasus Front War History Museum.” turkishmuseums.kprod.kultur.gov.tr. Accessed April 16, 2025. https://turkishmuseums.kprod.kultur.gov.tr/museum/detail/2106-kars-kafkas-cephesi-harp-tarihi-muzesi/2106/1.