Construction of Anıtkabir (1938-1953

Our book titled The Construction of Anıtkabir (1938-1953) is exclusively sold at the Anıtkabir Souvenir Shop. Additionally, it is cataloged in the libraries of prestigious universities worldwide, including Stanford, Yale, and Toronto.

The book The Construction of Anıtkabir (1938-1953) is derived from the doctoral dissertation Anıtkabir in the Context of Space and Politics, conducted at Ankara University's Institute of Turkish Revolution History. Resulting from extensive archival, newspaper, magazine, and legislative research, this work stands as the most detailed study on the construction of Anıtkabir. Scientifically prepared, the book is entirely based on sources, all of which are meticulously cited in footnotes. The research involved exploring the archives of the Prime Ministry, Anıtkabir, General Staff, Council of State, various ministries, and the Turkish Grand National Assembly, as well as reviewing all printed publications in Turkey from 1938 to 1953. The Construction of Anıtkabir (1938-1953) answers all the readers’ questions about Anıtkabir and includes photographs related to its construction. Written in an engaging style, the book ensures an enjoyable reading experience. The book, with ISBN 978-605-87164-0-7, consists of 272 pages, measures 15 x 21 cm, and features American binding with Enso paper. The back cover text of the book is as follows:

​

"Anıtkabir was built as an expression of the Turkish nation’s love, respect, and gratitude towards Atatürk. During the selection process of its location, Rasattepe emerged victorious over the Rasattepe-Çankaya debate. The Anıtkabir project was determined through an international competition, with the design by Turkish architects Emin Onat and Orhan Arda being chosen. Construction of Anıtkabir began in 1944 and was completed in 1953 after a challenging and lengthy process. On November 10, 1953, Atatürk’s remains were moved from the Ethnography Museum to Anıtkabir and interred there, 15 years after his death. Anıtkabir was built with the efforts of countless Turkish engineers and workers. This book provides a detailed account of the construction process of Anıtkabir, based on archival documents."