The prison housed several iconic Turkish intellectuals, including poets Nazım Hikmet and Ahmed Arif.
Deniz Gezmiş, Yusuf Aslan, and Hüseyin İnan, prominent leftist student leaders, were executed here in 1972.
The facility was originally built in 1925 as a cavalry barracks before being converted into a prison.
The 'Hilton' ward was a nickname given to the more comfortable cells where privileged political prisoners were kept.
A significant portion of the prison was converted into a cultural arts center following a major municipal restoration project.
The museum features preserved isolation cells that remain largely unchanged from their period of active use.
It functioned as the primary Ankara location for executing death sentences until the abolition of the penalty in Turkey.
The walls of the courtyard still bear graffiti and carvings created by former inmates during their long-term stays.
The transition from a functioning prison to a museum took four years of renovation work ending in 2011.
Ulucanlar Prison Museum is a former high-security detention facility turned cultural site that reflects Turkey's 20th-century political history. The museum occupies the site of the Ankara Central Closed Prison, which operated from 1925 until its closure in 2006. It preserves the original conditions of the iron-barred cells, isolation chambers, and administrative blocks where notable poets, journalists, and politicians were once held. Exhibits feature wax figures, personal belongings of former inmates, and historical documents detailing the facility's role in the aftermath of various military coups. The site was restored by the Altındağ Municipality and now houses an arts center, library, and cinema hall alongside the memorial museum. It serves as a somber reflection on the penal system and the political repression characterizing the republic's history. The museum maintains the chilling atmosphere of the original facility while providing educational context through informative plaques and displays.
The courtyard garden, which provides a stark contrast between the austere prison walls and the modern artistic environment.
Visit the library and arts workshops located in the courtyard area after completing the museum tour to see the facility's new purpose.
Read the plaques carefully as they contain essential context on the historical figures imprisoned here.
Be prepared for narrow, dimly lit corridors and steep stairs in the original cell blocks.
Avoid rushing through the historical corridors; the emotional weight of the site is best understood by taking time with the exhibits.
Closed on Mondays.
Maintain a quiet and respectful demeanor throughout the facility, as the site serves as a memorial for those executed.
