It all began here 124 years ago... Al Masmak Palace: the symbol of the Kingdom's unification, transformed into a national museum.
Knowledge Affairs – Special
On the twenty-third of September every year, celebrations of the National Day begin across the various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the day of the founding that represented the culmination of the arduous efforts undertaken by the founding King Abdulaziz Al Saud—may he rest in peace—over thirty years, beginning with his capture of Riyadh in 1902, as a prelude to restoring the rule of his fathers and forefathers, which had begun with the first founder, Muhammad bin Saud, in February 1727. During this period, the First Saudi State was established, followed by the Second Saudi State, culminating in the declaration of the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 23 September 1932.
The modern founding, however, began from a place of great symbolic significance in contemporary Saudi history: Al-Masmak Palace, which witnessed the beginning of the unification of the Kingdom and the beginning of victory and the return that marked the start of a new era for the Saudi state. This palace, whose historical symbolism has evolved into tangible documentary significance, was transformed into a national museum documenting the great event and providing distinctive insights into the achievements of the founding King Abdulaziz Al Saud.
A Historical Scene:
Al-Masmak Palace is an ancient historic fortress built in 1282 AH (1865) during the reign of Imam Abdullah bin Faisal. It was called “Al-Masmuk” because of the thickness of its walls and structures, and the name was later colloquially altered to “Al-Masmak.” With this commonly used name, the most famous heritage site in Riyadh witnessed many events, most notably becoming a symbol of the beginning of the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was later transformed into a museum to document the story of the recapture of Riyadh and display artifacts from the history of the Kingdom.
Al-Masmak is located in the northeastern corner of old Riyadh, near the old wall, and is now situated in the Al-Dira neighborhood. Al-Masmak was the site of the Battle of the Capture of Riyadh, in which Abdulaziz Al Saud recaptured the city of Riyadh for his Al Saud family from the Al Rashid family in 1902. Traces of that famous battle can still be seen on the palace gate, represented by the tip of the spear with which Ibn Ajlan, Ibn Rashid’s governor of Riyadh, was killed. The original gate remains in place to this day. Al-Masmak Palace is considered one of the few original buildings of Riyadh that remain standing today. It was used as a storehouse for ammunition and weapons after Riyadh came under Saudi rule in 1902.
In 1400 AH, the Riyadh Municipality prepared a special study for the restoration of Al-Masmak. Later, the Ministry of Education, in coordination with the High Commission for the Development of Riyadh, adopted a program to transform this landmark into a museum showcasing the stages of the founding of the Kingdom by King Abdulaziz. It was opened in early 1416 AH, corresponding to 1995, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz—may God preserve him—who was then Governor of the Riyadh Region.
Contents of Al-Masmak:
Al-Masmak Palace consists of several main sections: the palace gate, the mosque, the majlis (diwaniyah), the well, the towers, and the courtyard. The gate is located on the western side of the palace. It is 3.60 meters high and 2.65 meters wide and is made of palm and tamarisk trunks. The door is 10 centimeters thick. The mosque is located to the left of the entrance, while the diwaniyah is opposite the entrance and consists of a rectangular room containing a wajar, designed according to the traditional form of the wajar in the Najd region. The well is located in the northeastern section, from which water was drawn using a pulley mounted over the opening of the well, with the water pulled up by means of a bucket.
At each of the four corners of the Al-Masmak building stands a cylindrical tower, each approximately 18 meters high. They are accessed by stairs and then by two wooden ladders. Each tower contains firing positions around its perimeter, and the walls of the towers are approximately 1.25 meters thick. In the center of Al-Masmak stands a square-shaped tower known as Al-Murabba‘ah, overlooking the palace from the upper balcony.
There is also a main courtyard in the palace, surrounded by rooms with interconnected columns. The courtyard contains steps on the eastern side leading to the first floor and rooftops. There are also three residential units. The museum displays a collection of military equipment, including swords, spears, daggers, and rifles, in addition to military and Bedouin attire.
The materials used in constructing the palace consisted of mud mixed with straw, adobe, stones, plaster, tamarisk tree trunks, and palm fronds.
The victory that took place at Al-Masmak Palace was not merely a military battle; rather, it marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the Kingdom. Al-Masmak Palace became a symbol and landmark of strength and national unity and is today regarded as one of the most important symbols of Riyadh’s cultural and historical heritage.
Al-Masmak Palace recounts the history of the Kingdom and the story of its founding through nine halls displaying different aspects of this historical period. The halls begin by presenting the events surrounding the recapture of Riyadh and honoring the companions of King Abdulaziz, then move on to daily life during that era. The museum also provides a rich visual presentation through photographs, maps, and models that illustrate the features of the historic city. The museum tour concludes with a section dedicated to King Abdulaziz, containing photographs and memorable sayings that reflect his personality and his role in the unification of the country.
Footnotes:
· https://heritage.moc.gov.sa/Cultural-Location/Detail?id=A9BCD340909B447F90EEBDFBD543D9EA
· https://www.visitsaudi.com/ar/riyadh/attractions/al-masmak-palace-in-riyadh
