Our School History

Sivas High School opened in 1887. The foundation stone for the Sivas High School building was laid by former governor Sırrı Pasha. However, construction was temporarily suspended due to Sırrı Pasha's departure from Sivas. Governor Memduh Pasha, who later arrived in Sivas, dissatisfied with the location of the foundation laid by Sırrı Pasha and ordered the foundation stone laid for the current site.

Recognizing the great need for such a school building at the time, the Pasha invested considerable effort in its construction. Therefore, the construction of the school was awarded to a contractor, with contracts varying between increases and decreases. A commission was formed for this purpose, and Colonel Cemal Bey was appointed as its chairman. The commission members were Director of National Education Atıf Bey, Mayor Nuri Bey, administrative council member Nasuhi Zade Burhaneddin, and general administrative council member Chief Engineer Şahin Agopyan.

The school's plans were drawn by the chief engineer, but since no construction master could be found in Sivas to carry them out, a master craftsman brought from Giresun, guided by Colonel Cemalettin Bey, began work for seven gold coins a month. Abdi Kalfa laid the school's foundation stone, bearing Memduh Pasha's name, for a thousand gold coins. Construction took approximately four years, on June 19, 1894, at a cost of 8,140 gold coins at the time.

The building opened for instruction at the beginning of the academic year in 1894. The opening ceremony was conducted by Governor Halil Bey. The school's first principal was Hulisi Bey, a Bulgarian immigrant. Tevfik Bey, who later served in the Zara District Governorate and at the Sivas Directorate of National Education, was appointed as assistant principal. The building was repaired on March 31, 1918. This date coincides with the reign of Hacı Hasan Hilmi Pasha. Significant sums were spent on these renovations. The school gate, which currently faces İstasyon Street, was built in September 1930. The main building entrance overlooks the cobblestone street and is open to visitors on the anniversary of the September 4, 1919 Sivas Congress.

The building is two stories high, with classrooms on the lower floor and a small mosque inside. Two principals' offices, an administrative office, and a conference hall were located on the upper floor. The school was first named Idadi, then Sultani, and finally, at Atatürk's direction, Sivas High School. Of the two large rooms on the lower floor, the one on the left was the school's mosque, with Kufic calligraphy on its walls. At the time of the Sivas Congress, the school had twelve classrooms and became a high school in the 1924-1925 academic year under the name Sivas High School.

Beyond this historical past, the school building's most significant historical value is that the September 4, 1919 Sivas Congress was held in this building. The hall where the congress was held and Atatürk's bedroom are preserved in their original condition today. Atatürk and his wife, Latife Hanım, even stayed in the same building and were hosted.

After the representative delegation of the Sivas Congress was elected and went to Ankara, the school became a junior officer's school. This school is now known as the Petty Officers' School. Due to the school's subsequent transfer to Tokat, the art school attempted to move into the building, but thanks to the efforts of the students and administrators, the building was returned to its former owners. During the congress, the school's seven classes were moved to Burhaneddin Efendi's mansion in Paşabostan, while the first five classes were moved to a house on Taşlı Street, opposite Abidin Bey's mansion.

In 1950, it was decided that the Sivas High School building would become a museum, and consideration was given to building a school in Sivas. However, after the 1950 elections, this idea was abandoned.

The historic building, which served as the Sivas High School and Congress Museum until the 1970-1971 academic year, was abandoned with the construction of the new Sivas High School building on Taşlı Street, and education continues in the new building.