Anıtkabir Anıtkabir ( literally , " memorial tomb " ) is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk , the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey . It is located in Ankara and was designed by architects Professor Emin Onat and Assistant Professor Ahmet Orhan Arda , whose proposal beat 48 other entries from several countries in a competition held by the Turkish Government in 1941 for a " monumental tomb " for Atatürk . The site is also the final resting place of İsmet İnönü , the second President of Turkey , who was interred there after he died in 1973 . His tomb faces the Atatürk Mausoleum , on the opposite side of the Ceremonial Ground . The mausoleum was depicted on various Turkish banknotes during 1966 - 1987 and 1997 - 2009 . Visitors . On 10 November 2007 , the 69th anniversary of Atatürk ' s death , 546 , 620 people , of whom 2 , 420 were foreigners , visited Anıtkabir , setting an all - time high record of daily visitors . In the first 11 months of 2007 , Anıtkabir received more than 11 million visitors , surpassing the total number of visitors for any previous whole year . In 2006 , a total of 8 , 150 , 000 people and in 2005 , a total of 3 , 800 , 000 people visited Anıtkabir . On 10 November 2013 , 1 , 089 , 615 people visited Anıtkabir which is the new all - time record . On 29 October 2013 which is the anniversary of foundation of Republic of Turkey , 438 , 451 people visited Anıtkabir , which is also significant amount of visitors for only one day . On 10 November 2012 , the recorded number of visitors are announced as 413 , 568 people . Architectural properties . The period of Turkish architecture between 1940 and 1950 has been classified by architectural historians as the " Second National Architecture Movement " . This period is characterized mostly by monumental , symmetrical , cut - stone clad buildings , with great emphasis given to detailing and workmanship in construction . Anıtkabir contains the same characteristics of this period , and is considered by many to be the ultimate monument of the era . In addition , Anıtkabir features Seljuq and Ottoman architectural and ornamentation features . For example , the eaves of the towers and the Hall of Honour are all Seljuq - style " sawtooth " ornamentation . Construction . The site chosen for Anıtkabir was known as " Rasattepe " ( " Observation Hill " ) , which , at the time of the architectural competition for Anıtkabir , was a central location in Ankara and could be seen by all parts of the city . Archeological excavations unearthed artifacts belonging to the Phrygian civilization , which were carefully excavated and put on display in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations , also in Ankara . The construction of Anıtkabir , which took nine years and spanned four stages , commenced on 9 October 1944 with the ceremony of laying the foundation stone . The first stage of the construction , comprising the preparatory excavation and the construction of the retaining wall of the Lions Road , started on 9 October 1944 and was completed in 1945 . The second stage of the construction , comprising the mausoleum and the auxiliary buildings surrounding the ceremonial ground , started on 29 September 1945 , and was completed on 8 August 1950 . At this stage , due to problems related to the mausoleum ' s masonry and concrete structure foundations , some revisions had to be made . At the end of 1947 , the excavation and insulation of the mausoleum foundation was completed and steel reinforcements for the new 11 m . ( 36 . 1 ft ) high concrete foundation , capable of resisting any kind of settlement of the ground , had come to near completion . The Entrance towers , most parts of the road network , the orchard installations , the plantation works and main parts of the irrigation system were also completed at this stage . The third stage of the construction was the building of the roads leading to the mausoleum , The Lions Road , and the ceremonial ground ; the mausoleum ' s upper - level stone pavement , the grand stairs , placement of the grand tombstone , and the installation of electricity , plumbing and heating systems . The fourth and last stage of construction was the laying of the Hall of Honour pavement , vaults under the side linings , and Hall of Honour perimeter stone profiles and fringe decorations , which was completed on 1 September 1953 . Revision of original plans . The Anıtkabir project originally had a vaulted ceiling above the mausoleum carried by the perimeter columns . On 4 December 1951 , the Government asked the architects about the possibility of shortening construction time by lowering the high ceiling of the Hall of Honour . After studying the subject , the architects concluded that it was possible to cover the ceiling with a reinforced concrete slab instead of a stone vault . This change reduced the weight of the ceiling and also eliminated certain constructional risks . Surface reliefs and stones . All stones and marbles were brought in from various parts of Turkey , to be a representation of the Turkish People ' s devotion to the founder of the republic . Easily processed porous travertine is used on external cladding of the concrete surfaces and marble is used for the inside surfaces of the Hall of Honour . White travertine used for the sculpture groups , lions figures and the mausoleum columns was brought from Kayseri and the travertine used inside the towers was brought from Polatlı and Malıköy . The red and black travertine used for paving the ceremonial ground and floors of the towers came from Kayseri . Yellow travertine brought from Çankırı was used for building the Victory Reliefs , the Hall of Honour ' s external walls , and perimeter columns of the ceremonial ground . The red , black and cream colour marble that was used on the floor of the Hall of Honour were brought from Hatay , Adana and Çanakkale , and for the internal walls , tiger - patterned marble from Afyon and green marble from Bilecik was used . The sarcophagus , a monolithic tomb stone weighing 40 tons , was brought from Adana and the white marble covering the sides of the sarcophagus were also from Afyon . Layout . There are four main parts to Anıtkabir : the Road of Lions , the Ceremonial Plaza , the Hall of Honor ( location of Atatürk ' s tomb ) and the Peace Park that surrounds the monument . Road of Lions . The approach to the monument is a - long pedestrian walkway that is lined on both sides by twelve pairs of lions carved in a style like the Hittite archaeological finds . The lions represent Anatolia and are shown seated to simultaneously represent both power and peace . A five centimeter gap separates the paving stones on the Road of Lions to ensure that visitors take their time and observe respectful behavior on their way to Atatürk ' s tomb . Ceremonial Plaza . The Ceremonial Plaza is situated at the end of the Lions Road . The area is long and wide and was designed to accommodate 15 , 000 people . The floor is decorated with 373 rug and " kilim " ( Turkish carpet ) patterns , and is made of travertine in various colors . Hall of Honor . The Hall of Honor is the iconic symbol of Anıtkabir and the location of Atatürk ' s tomb . The structure is in plan and rises to a height of , with the columns themselves measuring . Atatürk ' s tomb is situated right under the symbolic 40 - ton sarcophagus in the ground floor of The Hall of Honor , and Atatürk ' s corpse is buried below this in a special Tomb Room in the basement level . The room has an octagonal plan in Seljuk and Ottoman architectural styles , and its pyramidal ceiling is inlaid with gold mosaics . Peace Park . The park that surrounds the monument is called a Peace Park in honor of Atatürk ' s famous expression " Peace at home , peace in the world . " It contains around 50 , 000 decorative trees , flowers and shrubs in 104 varieties , donated from around 25 countries . Towers , statues , museum . Within the Anitkabir site there are ten towers situated in a symmetrical arrangement . These symbolize the ideals that influenced the Turkish nation and the creation of the Republic of Turkey . The towers are similar in terms of planning and structure : they are rectangular , close to a square , with pyramidal roofs . Bronze arrowheads are placed on the top of the roofs , like in traditional Turkish nomad tents . Inside the towers , geometric ornamentation inspired by traditional Turkish carpet ( kilim ) patterns and motifs , can be found on the towers ' ceilings in fresco technique . There are also inscriptions of quotes by Atatürk that correspond to the theme of that tower . Independence Tower . The relief inside the Independence Tower shows a young man standing straight and holding a sword with both hands while an eagle is perching on a rock beside him . The eagle represents power and independence in mythology and in Seljuk art , and the young man with the sword represents the Turkish nation defending its independence . Female statue group . In front of the Independence Tower there is a statue group of three women in Turkish national costumes . The two women at the sides are holding a large wreath reaching to the ground . This wreath , made up of grain sheafs , represents the abundant country . The woman on the left with a cup in her stretched - out hand is asking for God ' s compassion for Atatürk , and the woman in the middle , covering her face with her hand , is crying . This group represents the pride of Turkish women , and their solemnity and determination even in the deepest grief of losing Atatürk . Freedom Tower . The relief inside the Freedom Tower shows a figure of an angel holding a sheet of paper and a rearing horse next to it . The angel figure symbolizes the holiness of freedom and the sheet of paper symbolizes the Turkish Declaration of Freedom . The horse figure is a symbol of both freedom and independence . Male statue group . In front of the Freedom Tower there is a statue group made up of three men . The man at the right with a helmet and coat represents a Turkish soldier ; on the left with a book in his hand is a Turkish youth and intellectual ; behind both of these , in village clothing , is a Turkish peasant . The serious facial expressions of all three statues represent the solemnity and willpower of the Turkish people . Mehmetçik Tower . The Mehmetçik Tower is situated on the right - hand side of the end of the Lion ' s Road . The relief on the exterior facade depicts a " mehmetçik " ( Turkish foot soldier ) leaving home for the front . In this composition , a sad but proud mother holding her hand on the shoulder of her son sends him to the war for the country . There is a bookstore and a gift shop in this tower for visitors interested in buying articles about Anıtkabir and Atatürk . Victory Tower . The dates of the nation ' s most important three victories and Atatürk ' s words about these victories are inscribed on the walls of this tower . Inside the tower , the gun carriage , which carried Atatürk ' s coffin from Dolmabahçe Palace to Sarayburnu and handed over to the Navy on 19 November 1938 is on display . Peace Tower . A relief composition expressing Atatürk ' s principle of Peace at home , peace in the world is inscribed inside the tower walls . In this relief , peasants and a soldier figure protecting them by holding out his sword are depicted . This soldier symbolizes the Turkish Army , the strong and genuine keeper of the peace , allowing people to live their daily lives in peace secured by the Turkish Army . 23 April Tower . On the inside walls of this tower is a relief depicting the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 23 April 1920 . The woman standing in this relief is holding a paper in her hand with an inscription of the date . The key in her other hand symbolizes the opening of the Assembly . Atatürk ' s 1936 Cadillac Series 80 car , used between 1936 and 1938 , is on display in this tower . Tower of Reforms . This tower is the extension of the museum and Atatürk ' s garments are exhibited here . The relief inside the tower wall shows a weak hand holding the torch about to extinguish , symbolizing the downfall of the Ottoman Empire . Another , strong hand raising a radiating torch to the skies symbolizes the reforms with which the new Turkish Republic and Atatürk raised the Turkish Nation to the level of contemporary civilization . Misak - ı Millî ( National Pact ) Tower . The tower is at the entry to the museum ( see below ) and the relief inside this tower symbolizes the binding in unity . The relief shows four hands joining on a sword hilt . This composition symbolizes the nation ' s common oath to save the Turkish Country . Anıtkabir Atatürk Museum . Anıtkabir Atatürk Museum opened on 21 June 1960 . Atatürk ' s personal items , his wardrobe , and some of the gifts presented to him are on display in this museum . Atatürk ' s medals , decorations and some personal items donated to the museum by his adopted children are also exhibited in the museum . One of the Turkey ' s top 50 civil engineering projects . Turkish Chamber of Civil Engineers lists Anıtkabir as one of the fifty civil engineering feats in Turkey , a list of remarkable engineering projects realized in the first 50 years of the chamber .