atatürk is the founder of turkey. his arrival in samsun on 19 may 1919 is considered as the starting point of turkish war of independence. ("see" commemoration of atatürk, youth and sports day) when atatürk arrived in samsun, he stayed in a former hotel named "mıntıka palas". the hotel was built in 1902 and in 1919 it was non operational. but it was opened for atatürk to be used as his headquarters.