First paper museum opens in northwestern province

YALOVA - Doğan News Agency

A bust of İbrahim Müteferrika is also placed in the museum. DHA photo

The İbrahim Müteferrika Paper Museum, Turkey’s first paper museum, opened in the northwstern province of Yalova on May 25.

An opening ceremony took place in Raif Dinçkök Culture Center, attended by Yalova governor Esengül Civelek and Yalova Mayor Yakup Koçal. “In our history, İbrahim Müteferrika is a very important character. We tried to make the museum a place that everyone can visit and enjoy. There is also a paper manufacturing shop here,” he said.

Noting that next year they would be opening a Migration Museum and Turkish World Poets Museum, Koçal said, “Our aim is to have six or seven museums in Yalova. These museums are important to establish the city’s identity.”

“All over the world people spend most of their time in the museums,” he added. Yalova governor Esengül Civelek said the first printing house was established in Yalova’s Elmalık Village and the first printer of the Ottoman era, İbrahim Müteferrika, took the papers from this printing house in the ancient times. The paper museum will house the mockups of the printers from the Yalakabad Printing House and papers will be created with the printer in the museum. The museum is very important not only for Yalova but for all Turkey, added Civelek.