The museum was founded by Rahmi M. Koç, based on his
private collection, and subsequent donations have greatly expanded the
fascinating exhibits, which range from a 13th century astrolabe to a 20th
century Harley Davidson motorcycle. Altogether the museuser collection of
technological objects now numbers over eight hundred. The anchor factory,
or lengerhane, was constructed during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III
(1703-1730) on the foundations of a 12th century Byzantine structure. The
imposing building with its massive walls and vaulted roof is at first
sight reminiscent rather of a Byzantine church or Ottoman mosque than a
factory. It is classified as a second grade historic monument by the Board
of Monuments. The museum collection quickly began to outgrow this
building, however, and in 1996 the Rahmi M. Koç Museum and Culture
Foundation purchased Hasköy Shipyard from the Maritime Lines. The
shipyard, which is also a second grade
historic building, was established in 1861 for carrying out repairs to
Istanbul's ferryboats. Located on the shores of the Golden Horn, this
building has been restored, and opened as part of the museum in July this
year. The museum complex seeks to both educate and entertain its visitors,
who include many schoolchildren and students, in line with modern,
interactive concepts of museology. The museum has been designed with
special lifts so that the disabled can enjoy their visit as much everyone
else. In the section How It Works, by pressing a button visitors can see
how a radiator produces heat, how a wheel turns, or how a dishwasher
works. In the vehicle section the exhibits are not restricted to veteran
cars. There is a car which runs on both water and land, the Rolls-Royce
which belonged to the late Baris Manço, an Anadol, the first mass
produced a Turkish car, and a 1918 Ford T, the first-ever mass produced
car. The exhibits also include the 1921 Fordson tractor driven by Atatürk
in the early period of the Turkish Republic, the steam engine that
originally powered the funicular railway in Istanbul (which still carries
passengers up and down the hill between Galata and Beyoglu today), and a
velocipede invented by P. Michaux. The Araser Olive Oil Works shows how
the olive oil
was produced by traditional methods, and a little further on is the rowing
boat workshop of Erol Usta, exactly as it was in 1932 in Ayvansaray. When
you open the door of the royal railway carriage in which the sultan
traveled around Europe in the 19th century, you see Sultan Abdülaziz
seated in his chair. The tram, which carried passengers between Kadiköy
and Moda until the late 1960s is in perfect condition, and still bears the
sign 'No Empty Seats, Not Boarding Passengers'. Opposite Halat Restaurant
overlooking the waters of the Golden Horn is a row of traditional shops
dating from the 1930s and 1940s. The toy shop, cobbler, clockmaker,
herbalist, and blacksmiths forge carry you back into the past. And when
you need a rest, a traditional British pub, the Barbarossa, with its
century old beer mugs, tables and chairs, welcomes visitors.
By EMEL ÇELEBI Photos SERVET DILBER / PRINT HOTOBANK TURKEY
fascinating exhibits, which range from a 13th century astrolabe to a 20th
century Harley Davidson motorcycle. Altogether the museuser collection of
technological objects now numbers over eight hundred. The anchor factory,
or lengerhane, was constructed during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III
(1703-1730) on the foundations of a 12th century Byzantine structure. The
imposing building with its massive walls and vaulted roof is at first
sight reminiscent rather of a Byzantine church or Ottoman mosque than a
factory. It is classified as a second grade historic monument by the Board
of Monuments. The museum collection quickly began to outgrow this
building, however, and in 1996 the Rahmi M. Koç Museum and Culture
Foundation purchased Hasköy Shipyard from the Maritime Lines. The
shipyard, which is also a second grade
historic building, was established in 1861 for carrying out repairs to
Istanbul's ferryboats. Located on the shores of the Golden Horn, this
building has been restored, and opened as part of the museum in July this
year. The museum complex seeks to both educate and entertain its visitors,
who include many schoolchildren and students, in line with modern,
interactive concepts of museology. The museum has been designed with
special lifts so that the disabled can enjoy their visit as much everyone
else. In the section How It Works, by pressing a button visitors can see
how a radiator produces heat, how a wheel turns, or how a dishwasher
works. In the vehicle section the exhibits are not restricted to veteran
cars. There is a car which runs on both water and land, the Rolls-Royce
which belonged to the late Baris Manço, an Anadol, the first mass
produced a Turkish car, and a 1918 Ford T, the first-ever mass produced
car. The exhibits also include the 1921 Fordson tractor driven by Atatürk
in the early period of the Turkish Republic, the steam engine that
originally powered the funicular railway in Istanbul (which still carries
passengers up and down the hill between Galata and Beyoglu today), and a
velocipede invented by P. Michaux. The Araser Olive Oil Works shows how
the 
olive oil
was produced by traditional methods, and a little further on is the rowing
boat workshop of Erol Usta, exactly as it was in 1932 in Ayvansaray. When
you open the door of the royal railway carriage in which the sultan
traveled around Europe in the 19th century, you see Sultan Abdülaziz
seated in his chair. The tram, which carried passengers between Kadiköy
and Moda until the late 1960s is in perfect condition, and still bears the
sign 'No Empty Seats, Not Boarding Passengers'. Opposite Halat Restaurant
overlooking the waters of the Golden Horn is a row of traditional shops
dating from the 1930s and 1940s. The toy shop, cobbler, clockmaker,
herbalist, and blacksmiths forge carry you back into the past. And when
you need a rest, a traditional British pub, the Barbarossa, with its
century old beer mugs, tables and chairs, welcomes visitors.