Some of the buildings we pass by while walking along the coast of Inebolu are much more than bricks and stones; they are the silent witnesses of the people who carried the fate of an entire nation on their shoulders. Built in 1893 during the golden age of trade and known today as the Turkish Quarry Independence Road Museum, that historical building is undoubtedly the most powerful memory of this glorious history.
Although today it is inland from the sea due to the coastal embankment, in those years the waves of the raging Black Sea were beating the walls of the building. The historic Yarbaşı Stairs, which access the building from the sea side, are still standing faithfully today with all their authenticity. On the bottom wall of the stairs, the rusty chain links that the boats were tied to are still standing in the same way.
Stand on the stairs, sit down and close your eyes. You will feel the passage of many unsung heroes and the vital ammunition being carried on the backs of the many nameless heroes flowing through Inebolu to Anatolia, to liberation, and you will clearly hear the sounds of the hectic but hopeful hustle and bustle. This is the lifeblood of a nation's hope for salvation. Mustafa Kemal Pasha's words “My eyes are in Sakarya, my ears are in Inebolu” describe this in the simplest and most beautiful way.
These historical walls hosted not only a war of independence but also an intellectual revolution. When Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk came to Inebolu on August 25, 1925, he announced the historical and decisive first announcement of the Hat and Dress Reform before it was enacted into law, also known as the ’Hat Speech“, to the whole nation from this building.
Note to the Future: Vision of a True “Museum City”
This precious building, which has been a home of enlightenment throughout history, from the Turkish Hearths to the People's Houses, has survived fires and abandonment and survived to the present day. Unfortunately, in its current state, it is far from conveying the huge saga it has witnessed to the visitor.
We need a much stronger museum concept that blends the rich commercial past of Inebolu, the superhuman efforts of the Barge Builders“ Guild and the spirit of the Gençler Mahfili and tells its story in a modern and striking language. The way to give Inebolu, whose streets smell of history, the ”Museum City" identity it deserves and to create a solid tourism route for the region is precisely to revive the deep spirit behind these walls with the glory it deserves.