Sivas War Horses Museum

Museum of War Horses, located within the Hamidiye Millet Bahçesi in Sivas, is a museum dedicated thematically to horses used in warfare and equestrian military culture throughout history. It was established through the restoration of a historic hara building constructed in 1889 by Ottoman Sultan II. Abdülhamid for the breeding of horses for the palace and army^【1】 and opened to the public on 29 October 2021. It is the only museum in the world with this concept^【2】.

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The building housing the museum was constructed in 1889 during the Ottoman Empire under the orders of II. Abdülhamid as an “aygır deposu” or “numune çiftliği.” It served as a hara (horse breeding farm) dedicated to raising the Anatolian horse breed known at the time as “Uzunyayla atları” for the Ottoman military. After losing its original function, the building was restored faithfully to its original form by the Sivas Municipality and reconfigured according to modern museum principles. The museum building spans 1,800 square meters and consists of 35 galleries^【3】. The structure is regarded as a notable example of repurposing cultural heritage.

The museum is situated in the historic Haralar region near the Nuri Demirağ Airport Junction on the Sivas-Ankara highway. Located within the 251,000-square-meter Hamidiye Millet Bahçesi (Culture Garden), it falls within the boundaries of Danişmentgazi Mahallesi.

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Museum of War Horses features an exhibition design that explores the historical journey of war horses from a broad perspective. The museum, composed of two main galleries, aims to combine informative displays with experiential storytelling.

This section provides basic information about war horses. Life-size silicone statues of ten horse breeds that played significant roles in battlefields across different regions are displayed^【4】. Additionally, the armor and weapons of cavalrymen from different historical periods and cultures—including Seljuk gulams, Ottoman sipahis, Mongol keşiks, and European knights—are displayed on silicone statues alongside the armor and riding equipment of their horses (such as arrows, bows, axes, and swords)^【5】.

The first gallery also features three-dimensional silicone statues of three important historical figures alongside their horses:

• Fatih Sultan Mehmed and his horse Küheylan
• Sultan II. Abdülhamid and his horse Ferhan
• Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his horse Sakarya

Some sources indicate that statues of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, Attila, and Genghis Khan on horseback are also present in this gallery^【6】.

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This section presents information on the history of the museum building and the region, Anatolian yurt ocağıs, military preparation games, equestrian sports, and horse racing. Traditional crafts such as farriery and saddlery are represented through artifacts, models, and dioramas (three-dimensional scene reconstructions). The gallery also features a silicone statue of the famous Sivas jockey Halis Karataş and his horse Boldpilot^【7】.

The museum’s collection includes both exact replicas and original artifacts of historical value. Traditions and customs are presented with the support of dioramas.

The museum has been officially registered by the Ministry of National Education as an out-of-school learning environment. It serves as a specialized non-classroom educational space through which students can learn about the historical and cultural significance of the horse. During visits, students are required to move in groups under teacher supervision and follow the guidance of museum staff^【8】. The museum aims to achieve various learning outcomes for students, including evaluating historical events and concepts, analyzing works of art, recognizing shared heritage elements, and performing volume and area calculations.

The Museum of War Horses operates under Buruciye A.Ş., affiliated with the Sivas Provincial Special Administration. It is open daily from 08:00 to 17:00.^【9】 Admission is charged; discounts are applied for group visits with prior reservation. Reservations are made through Buruciye A.Ş. Free admission is also provided for organized group visits authorized in writing by the Sivas Provincial Special Administration.

The museum building is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities. Guided tours are available on-site. Within the Hamidiye Millet Bahçesi, facilities such as a mosque, café, and restrooms are provided to meet visitors’ needs.

As the first and only museum of its thematic kind in the world, the museum welcomed approximately 600,000 visitors between its opening on 29 October 2021 and August 2023^【10】. Particularly on weekends, the museum draws the most attention for its realistic silicone statues of the sultans and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

When considered alongside other historical structures from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, the museum stands out as a key contributor to the diversity of cultural tourism in Sivas. Thanks to its thematic content, it offers an alternative tourism experience for visitors interested in history, military culture, horse breeding, and equestrian traditions.