• Türkiye 2023
    Entry hall at the Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova, İzmir.
    Ship's figurehead @ the Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova, İzmir.Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova, İzmir.Just one of the many rooms filled with maritime history models and art @ the Arkas MHC — Bornova.Model of Cumhuriyet (Republic) & C J de Lacy's "Barges and Other Shipping on the Thames — Arkas MHC.Ship models representing ancient maritime history @ the Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova.Kaiser Wilhelm's yachts, Kaiseradler and Hohenzollern II, in Istanbul @ the Arkas MHC, Bornova.Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova, İzmir.Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova, İzmir.Civil War Era USS Monitor in copper @ the Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova, İzmir.H.J. Gunn's "St John from the Thames" @ the Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova, İzmir.The River Queen was used by Abraham Lincoln @ General Grant as a dispatch boat during the Civil War.R.G. Lloyd's "Mauretania Docked in Mersey" @ the Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova, İzmir.Diorama of the Trafalgar War @ the Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova, İzmir.G.C. Stanfield's "Battle of Trafalgar" @ the Arkas Maritime History Center — Bornova, İzmir.We saw the raised and restored Vasa at the museum in Stockholm, Sweden — Arkas MHC, Bornova.The historic mansion in which the Arkas Maritime History Center is housed — Bornova, İzmir.

    Bornova: Arkas Maritime History Center

    September 22, 2023 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    From Pagy Köşkü, we retraced our steps back down the street to another mansion dating back to the 1800s. Our destination was the Arkas Maritime History Center … which, the sign at the door promoted as the place where “… witnesses to centuries of maritime heritage are brought to life …”. An apt description.

    The museum was founded by Lucien Arkas, whose family’s Levantine roots in İzmir go very deep. Having visited several other museums founded by the family, I knew we were more than likely in for a treat. We were not disappointed.

    The founder’s message tells how years ago Lucien Arkas was so impressed by a ship’s model of HMS Victory (by Engin Alsan) that he ordered his first ship model. That started him on his quest for all things maritime … a collection over 30 years in the making. The items on display cover a period from 1000 B.C. to the present day, comprising wide and varied models of legendary ships, nautical objects, and canvases by Turkish and international painters.

    Once again, the glare from the glass display cases caused me to minimize my shutter clicks, but it was an otherwise wonderful museum to visit. Highly recommended … especially to aficionados of maritime history.    Read more