The Sumy Regional Museum of Local Lore is the largest collection of materials on the history, ethnography, nature, and archaeology of Sumy region: about 45,000 exhibits. Since 1972, it has been housed in one of the city’s most beautiful buildings — the former zemstvo administration building, constructed at the end of the 19th century based on the design by architect Karl Scholz.
Nikanor Onatskyi Museum
The museum was founded in 1920 as an art-historical museum. Its founder and first director was the Ukrainian artist, poet, and public figure Nikanor Onatskyi. In 1939, the archaeological, ethnographic, and natural history collections were separated into a distinct local lore museum, while the art collection remained in the Sumy Art Museum.
What’s in the museum
The museum has a natural history department — geology, flora, and fauna of Sumy region; a historical department — archaeology, ethnography, antique weapons, and documents; and a department of modern history. Among the most valuable exhibits are a Slavic ard from the 7th–9th centuries, Byzantine vases from the 4th–5th centuries made by Constantinople masters, jewelry and glass cups from the Chernyakhiv culture burial ground near Sumy, Cossack weapons, powder flasks and inkwells from the 17th century, Bohemian glass from the 18th century, guild banners, Krolevets towels, and Volokytyn porcelain. There are also documents related to Pavlo Polubotok, Taras Shevchenko, and Pavlo Hrabovskyi.
Zemstvo building
The zemstvo administration building is a historical and architectural monument of the 19th century. Karl Scholz, the project’s author, also built the Trinity Cathedral in Sumy.
How to get there
Address: Sumy, Herasym Kondratiev Street, 2 — historic centre. Nearby are the Resurrection and Transfiguration cathedrals. Due to martial law, it is best to check the opening hours in advance.
What to consider
Sumy regularly suffers drone and missile strikes. Before travelling, check the security situation and restrictions of the Sumy Regional Military Administration.
