Ahi Evran Tradesmen and Craftsmen Museum

The Ahi Evran Tradesmen and Artisans Museum is a cultural museum located in the Tacettin Veli Neighborhood of the Melikgazi district in Kayseri. It is established in the lodge (zaviye) where Ahi Evran lived and carried out his services. The museum aims to preserve and promote the philosophy of Akhism (Ahilik), which formed the moral and spiritual foundations of craftsmanship and trade in Anatolia.

History and Restoration

The lodge was founded in the 13th century by Ahi Evran and was opened to visitors as a museum in 2002 by the Kayseri Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Artisans. In 2022, it was restored and reorganized by the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality in line with modern museology principles. This renovation enriched the building and exhibition areas with digital systems.

Exhibitions and Collection

The museum displays approximately 300 artifacts related to 12 different crafts, including coppersmithing, tinsmithing, blacksmithing, tailoring, barbering, carpet weaving, rope making, leatherworking, and carpentry. Notable items in the collection include Ahi Evran’s leather-tanning stones, hand tools, weaving looms, and various professional instruments. Each section features aphorisms attributed to Ahi Evran, reminding visitors of the ethical values of Akhism.

Cultural Significance

The museum preserves the tangible traces of Akhism, which is considered the foundation of professional ethics and social solidarity in Anatolia. The Akhi tradition represents a social model that promotes honesty, fairness, and sharing in trade, a system that extended into the Ottoman period. Ahi Evran’s life—from leatherworking to leadership among tradesmen—is presented in this museum through both its historical and ethical dimensions.

Current Status

Today, the Ahi Evran Tradesmen and Artisans Museum has received an award from the Association of Historic Towns in the category of “Handicrafts and Craft Museums” and makes a significant contribution to Kayseri’s cultural tourism. Located at Tacettin Veli Neighborhood, 38230 Melikgazi/Kayseri, the museum invites visitors on a journey to the roots of the Akhi tradition.