Built in 1923 as a military depot, the prison was repurposed as a prison in 1925 following renovations. It was constructed in 1925 as the first prison of the Republic of Turkey. Closed in 2006 and transferred to Altındağ Municipality for restoration in 2009, Ulucanlar Prison reopened on June 15, 2011, under a completely new identity. Having witnessed executions and prisoner riots during its 81 years of operation, and having housed important figures in Turkish literary and political history, Ulucanlar Prison was transformed into a museum and cultural arts center by Altındağ Municipality. In a first for Türkiye, Altındağ Municipality prevented the demolition of the prison, thus adding another significant landmark to Ankara. Ulucanlar Prison, with all its historical significance, welcomes visitors on a journey through the dusty pages of history.