The museum is set in an Ottoman-period building, an 18th century factory which produced anchors and their chains. It was recently converted, although has retained many of its original features, and restored by Rahmi Koc, who is one of Turkey’s most powerful industrialists.

It was essentially done so he could house his private collection of models, machines and vehicles which he had collected from all over Europe, and exhibits include original penny-farthing bicycles, a ship’s bridge, and an engine from the Kalender steam ferry. The museum is trying to raise the Australian navy’s first submarine sink of gallipoli in World War I.

Permanent exhibitions

Most of the items exhibited in the museum are selected from Rahmi Koc's private collection. Other objects are either borrowed from or donated by various organizations and individuals. Original machines and their replicas, scientific and mechanical items make up the basis of the museum's exhibits.

• Road transport: Racing cars, sports cars, salon/coupe and convertible cars, utility vehicles, commercial vehicles , motorcycles
• Rail transport: Old Istanbul tram (1934), Sultan’s carriage (1867), steam engine locomotive (1913), narrow-gauge steam locomotive (1930), Istanbul Tunel carriage (1876), Henschel steam locomotive (1918)
• Marine: Submarine (1944), cargo vessel, motorboat, lifeboat (1951), Bosphorus boat, outboard motor collection, amphibious car
• Aviation: Aircraft, aviation parts collection, aircraft engines, large and small-scale aircraft models
• Engineering: Ferry boat steam engine (1911), olive oil factory, portable stationary steam engine (1872), gas engine, wood saw, marine compound steam engine (1900)
• Communications: Rotary dial telephone (1920), phonograph (1903), Thomas Edison telegraph patent model (1876), valve amplifier (1936), zoetrope (1835)
• Scientific instruments: Wimshurst machine, grand orrery, marine chronometer, Strassbourg turret clock
• Models and toys: Hands-on: Cutaway car, aero plane, scientific experiments and cutaway domestic goods.