Akşehir Nasreddin Hodja Archaeology and Ethnography Museum

The Nasreddin Hodja Archaeology and Ethnography Museum is located in Akşehir, Konya. The building originally served as the Rüştü Bey Mansion and was commissioned by Rüştü Bey, one of the prominent figures of Akşehir.

Rüştü Bey played an important role in the development of Akşehir. Two significant structures in the district bear his name: the Rüştü Bey Inn, built in 1904, and the Rüştü Bey Mansion, whose construction began at the start of the First World War. The mansion was built on the site of his father Mustafa Ağa’s former house. Construction initially began under Armenian masters and was later completed by Turkish craftsmen. Designed as a two-storey twin-house structure, the building combines wooden elements with adobe and stone masonry on the basement and ground floors, and originally housed Rüştü Bey in one section and his sons in the other.

Akşehir has long been home to diverse ethnic communities, creating a rich and layered cultural fabric. As a result, architectural features from various traditions—especially those of traditional Turkish houses—can be seen throughout the city. The Rüştü Bey Mansion clearly reflects these cultural influences.

Registered by the Supreme Council of the Ministry of Culture on 15 November 1985 under registration number 1569, the mansion was expropriated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 1989. Restoration works began in 1992. Later converted into the Nasreddin Hodja Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, the building has largely preserved its original structure. It consists of two floors above a basement and ground level.

The ground floor contains six rooms and includes ethnographic and archaeological storage areas as well as administrative offices. The second floor hosts the archaeological exhibition, arranged chronologically across three rooms on each side.

The third floor is dedicated to ethnographic displays. One section features rooms illustrating scenes from Nasreddin Hodja’s anecdotes and a traditional Akşehir bridal room, while the opposite section presents additional ethnographic items. In the central hall, visitors can see 13th-century woodwork, including the gate of the Seyyid Mahmud Hayrani Tomb and a chest from the Sheikh Eyüb Tomb.