The museum temporarily hosted the sarcophagus of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk from 1938 to 1953, during the period of the construction of Anıtkabir, his final resting place.

[4] The casket was placed on a catafalque in the front of the Turkish Grand National Assembly building for Atatürk's state funeral.

Atatürk's mahogany casket was placed inside a white marble sarcophagus where it remained for nearly 15 years.

On November 4, 1953, after the completion of Anıtkabır, his sarcophagus was opened in the presence of Parliament speaker Refik Koraltan, Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, Chief of General Staff Nuri Yamut and other officials.

The casket was removed and placed on a catafalque in the museum, where it remained until November 10, 1953, on the 15th anniversary of his death.