The building was built in a 19th century neoclassical style on a terrace. In 1831 it was firstly used as a hospital. ( St Roch Hospital ) It is known to have been repaired by the French in 1845 and converted into a nursing home for poor Christian families. The same building was later used as the service building of the Public Health and Health Directorate. On 2 December 1984, the museum was given to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in order to regulate it as Ethnographic Museum .
Ethnographic works were exhibited in Izmir since October 29, 1978, at the lower floor of the Izmir Ataturk and Ethnography Museum. Then, the former Health Directorate building, which was restored in 1985-1987, was put into service as an ethnography museum.
The museum building was built on three floors as a ground floor. 1st and 2nd floors are showrooms and the third serve as İzmir Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate.
The aim of this exhibition is to give impressions of Izmir and its social life in the 19th century. For this reason, our handicrafts resisting extinction from industrialization, such as tin craftmanship, pottery, pottery, eye beads, wood printing, carpet weaving, rope, felt and saddlery are exhibited.
1. Floor Display:
On the right in section 1:19th-century guest room, hand embroidery, bath sets are exhibited.
Section 2: Theeye bead furnace and its samples, the first Turkish pharmacy in İzmir (İttihat Pharmacy), are exhibited . The famous sherbet seller (Demirhindi) of Izmir is exhibited in this section to visitors .
Section 3:Menemen pottery wheel and products, saddlery, camel and camel wrestling, folk dances, efe and efe clothings are introduced.In the interior of the corridor in the recessed showcases, pouches, mother of pearl articles, glass and handworks are exhibited.
10 . Floor Display:
Section 1:19th century bridal room, showcase of the wedding dresses, living room, circumcision room and kitchen materials are on display.
Section 2:Bridal heads of the Aegean Region, women's ornaments, coins of the Ottoman Period, handwritten books and writing sets are exhibited.