Bab Baghdad: Unveiling Hidden Stories, One Step at a Time
Bab Baghdad: Unveiling Hidden Stories, One Step at a Time
The Bab Baghdad project continues to make remarkable progress toward achieving its outlined objectives.
A collaborative effort in the shape of a research approach and that is supported by the University of London, Al- Nahrein Network, and implemented by Peta center for Cultural Services in partnership with the Baghdadi Cultural Center that is located on Al-Mutanabbi Street; Bab Baghdad serves as a testament to dedication and shared vision into the cultural heritage of this area.
The project team has uncovered a number of significant new documents, including those from the Iraqi Red Crescent Organization. These reveal that during World War I, the center’s building was repurposed into a hospital with 300 beds, which is the reason why Al-Mutanabbi Street was historically referred to as ” The Hospital Street.”
Additionally, documents from the Iraqi Bar Association show that the association occupied two rooms in the building. Evidence suggests that these rooms are now part of the modern art hall. The Bar Association remained in the building from the establishment of the civil courts in 1920 until 1972.
During ongoing work in the Interactive Guide Hall inside the BCC, a visitor from the Ameriya district in Baghdad serendipitously stopped by and identified his father, Colonel Abdul Malik Taher, as the Police Chief of Civil Courts in 1972 and 1973. He pinpointed his father’s office and the guards’ station and even shared a photograph of him.
Moreover, Dr. Sabah Al-Kirkukli has generously donated his time to see through thousands of Ottoman-era documents, and worked on cataloging and analyzing them; the work is still underway.
The Interactive Guide, the backbone of this project, is expected to be completed soon, providing a clearer vision for Bab Baghdad and its historical significance as the project continues to unfold.
