The Vasyl Tarnovsky Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum is one of the oldest historical museums in Ukraine. It is located on the Val, in a three-story building of the former men's gymnasium in the classical style, constructed according to a standard design by the architect Andrian Zakharov. Its holdings include over 160,000 items, ranging from Late Paleolithic finds to 20th-century artifacts.
Collector and Patron
The museum grew out of two initiatives of the late 19th century. In 1896, the provincial academic archival commission and its historical museum were opened in Chernihiv. In the same year, public figure, collector, and patron Vasyl Tarnovsky offered to donate his large collection of antiquities to the zemstvo and create the Museum of Ukrainian Antiquities on its basis.
Due to bureaucracy, Tarnovsky's museum was opened to visitors only in 1902. It was housed in a neo-Gothic building on Shevchenko Street. In 1923, all five Chernihiv museums were merged, and from 1933 the main exhibition moved to the Val — to the gymnasium building, where it remains today. The museum was returned Tarnovsky's name in 1991.
The neo-Gothic building on Shevchenko Street, which once housed the Tarnovsky Museum, suffered significant damage on March 11, 2022, during a Russian airstrike.
What to See
The exhibition is structured chronologically and tells the story of the Chernihiv region from the Stone Age to the present day. The most valuable part is the Rus period: encolpion crosses, Old Rus jewelry from eight hoards, a hoard of Chernihiv-type hryvnias, lead bullae, weapons of the 10th–13th centuries, including six swords. Here you can also see a 10th-century wooden well and finds from Chernihiv barrows, notably the Black Grave.
Separate permanent exhibitions are dedicated to the family estates of the Chernihiv region, prominent natives of the land, and Chernihiv at the turn of the centuries. The museum also includes the Military-Historical Department in a 1985 building with an exhibition on the military history of the region.
How to Get There
The museum is located at 4 Muzeina Street, on the Val, next to the Saviour Cathedral and the Collegium. It is closed on Thursdays; it is best to check the working hours on the museum's website before your trip. Exploring the oldest part of the city is covered in the walk "Along the Val and Tretyak".
