Istanbul Naval Museum

It was established in 1897 by the Ottoman Minister of the Navy (Bahriye Nazırı) Bozcaadalı Hasan Hüsnü Pasha.

[1][2] The museum contains an important collection of military artifacts pertaining to the Ottoman Navy.

Around 20,000 pieces are present in its collection, including the late 16th or early 17th century Ottoman galley known as Tarihi Kadırga, built in the period between the reigns of Sultan Murad III (1574–1595) and Sultan Mehmed IV (1648–1687),[3][4] as evidenced by AMS radiocarbon dating and dendrochronological research.

[7] The basement consists of diverse items like figureheads, ornaments of naval ships, ship models, and pieces of the Byzantine chain that was used for blocking the entrance of the Golden Horn during the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453.

Many exhibition items underwent special restoration and conservation works due to deformation of the raw materials caused by heat, light, humidity, atmospheric conditions, vandalism and other factors.

Minister of the Ottoman Navy ( Bahriye Nazırı ) Bozcaadalı Hasan Hüsnü Pasha established the Istanbul Naval Museum ( İstanbul Deniz Müzesi ) in 1897.
Fragment of the Byzantine chain that closed the entrance of the Golden Horn during the Fall of Constantinople in 1453
The Byzantine chain that closed the entrance of the Golden Horn during the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, with the original portrait depicting Mehmed the Conqueror 's triumphant entry into Constantinople by Hasan Rıza (later re-interpreted by Fausto Zonaro , whose version is at the nearby Dolmabahçe Palace ) [ 8 ] seen in the background.