Located within a stone mansion built for a wealthy local in 1896, this ethnographic museum provides a captivating glimpse into the life of upper class Ottoman society, before it all came to an end in the early 20th century. The splendorous structure was built by Paşaoğlu Hüseyin Efendi, a rich noble of Ordu, in 1896. Paşaoğlu Konağı (mansion) became a public building in 1982 and its restoration started in 1983. It was inaugurated as the Paşaoğlu Konağı and Ethnography Museum on November 18, 1987, when the restoration and display arrangements were completed. It's one of the rare examples of civic architecture in the Black Sea region that survived from the last century and that's been saved for the coming generations.
The captivating history of the Ottomans
The beautiful mansion with its high ceilings contains a whole host of fascinating displays, emphasizing the famous history of the Ottoman empire. It also provides insight into Ottoman life. Take a step back into the past and admire the collection of weapons on display at the museum, carefully preserved and still as impressive in their deadliness today. There's also an exhibit of traditional Ottoman costume, which allows visitors to immerse themselves in the world of rich Ottomans from this era. Another must-see item is the sand-needle embroidery of the famous and much-loved Atatürk, who visited in 1924.
A marvelous venue for learning
The mansion is one of the most beautiful examples of the 19th century civic architecture. The three-story building hosts ethnographic materials on the first floor and objects from typical mansion life on the second floor. The ground floor is simply for administrative offices and cannot be visited. The stones of this notable mansion come from Unye, district of Ordu, while the tiles and the wooden parts of the building are from Romania. Various craftsmen from Istanbul contributed to the construction of this building that covers an area of 625 m² together with its garden. For visitors to Ordu who are looking for some insight into the history of the area and, in particular, the Ottoman Empire, this museum is a good choice. The story of those who lived during this period is told in an exciting way through this collection in a historic house that's well worth a stop. The museum lies 500 m northwest (and uphill) from the main square in the center of Ordu. Prospective visitors should look for signs reading "Müze" (museum).
