Maktab Anbar (Arabic: مكتب عنبر) (Anbar Office) is an old house in the center of Old Damascus near the Umayyad Mosque and a short distance from the Street Called Straight. The house was built as a private residence by a local Jewish notable Mr. Anbar in the mid 19th century. The house is built around three courtyards, first the formal reception courtyard, behind this the attractive female courtyard, and finally the spartan servants' courtyard. The main sections were completed at tremendous expense, and due to high costs Mr. Anbar abandoned the project In 1887. The Ottomans, who then occupied Syria, completed the project adding two wings and converting the house into a boys' school. The house was restored by the Ministry of Culture in 1976. It now holds a library exhibition hall, museum and craft workshops.[1]