The mansion was built as a vineyard lodge in the 19th century. In 1921, it was acquired by two Ankara citizens named Bulgurluzade Mehmet and Rıfat Bey. The municipality of Ankara transformed the house into a presidential residence for the use of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938). On 30 May 1921, it was presented to Atatürk, who had to stay in the School of Agriculture and the master's house of Ankara Train Station following his arrival in Ankara on 27 December 1919 to start the Turkish War of Independence.[2][3][4]
The mansion became Atatürk's official residence witnessing important historical events during the Turkish War of Independence and the early years of the Republic. It was also the place where also Atatürk's reforms were planned. In 1932, the mansion became disused when a new residence, the Çankaya Mansion, aka the Pink Mansion ("Pembe Köşk"), was built next to it to meet the need of expanding functions.[2]
In 1950, the mansion was opened to the public as a museum. In order not to become dilapidated, and to protect the exhibition items from deterioration, major maintenance works were started in 2002 that lasted until 2007. During these efforts, it was concluded that the site should be used as a historic house rather than as a museum to reflect its natural picture of that era. The Atatürk Museum Mansion was then reopened to the public on 19 April 2009.[2][3]
It was Atatürk's longest-staying residence in his life.[3] It was also called the Army Mansion (Turkish: Ordu Köşkü) after he transferred the building to the Turkish Army.[3]
