Atatürk passed away on 10 November 1938 in Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, Turkey at 9:05am at age 57 due to the cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis is a disease in the liver interfering with the normal functioning of the liver usually due to alcoholism. The bedroom clock was stopped at exactly 9:05 am- the time of his death and still remains untouched to this day. Now every year at exactly 9:05 am the whole country stops for a minute of silence. His body was temporarily laid in Ankara to rest while magnificent mausoleum was being built in his memory. The building of it begun in 1944 and finally finished in 1953 and is visited by millions of people every day.