Chernihiv Library for Youth
(the first building of the Museum of Ukrainian Antiquities)
Location
Chernihiv city
Status
national architectural monument
Completed
1902
Destroyed/damaged
March 11th, 2022
airstrike
In the past, the library building was the main building of the Museum of Ukrainian Antiquities, one of the first and most famous museums in Ukraine. The museum was opened in 1902 on the initiative of the patron, collector, and descendant of the noble family Vasyl Tarnovskyi. Over the years, Vasyl Tarnovskyi and his father have assembled an impressive collection of relics of Ukrainian history and culture from different centuries, as well as things related to Taras Shevchenko.
In the end of the 19th century, the future museum, and before that – a tradesman’s school, was rebuilt in the pseudo-Gothic style – the building was notable for its pointed arches and decorated with pilasters of various shapes. Among the museum’s most famous collections are archeological monuments of primitive societies and Kievan Rus, autographs of famous statesmen and cultural figures, a collection of artistic and cartographic materials “Picturesque Ukraine”, more than 1,500 portraits of prominent historical figures, rare manuscripts, old prints. The section of Cossack antiquities, which contained about 1,000 monuments, was of particular value.
In the end of the 19th century, the future museum, and before that – a tradesman’s school, was rebuilt in the pseudo-Gothic style – the building was notable for its pointed arches and decorated with pilasters of various shapes. Among the museum’s most famous collections are archeological monuments of primitive societies and Kievan Rus, autographs of famous statesmen and cultural figures, a collection of artistic and cartographic materials “Picturesque Ukraine”, more than 1,500 portraits of prominent historical figures, rare manuscripts, old prints. The section of Cossack antiquities, which contained about 1,000 monuments, was of particular value.
Later, Tarnovskyi’s collection became part of the Chernihiv historical museum and other museums. However, the house on Shevchenko street preserved the memory of Tarnovsky’s personality and his museum, which played a huge role in preserving the relics of Ukraine’s past. This activity became an important component of the nation-building process, and the creation of the museum was an attempt to comprehend and spread among the public awareness of the uniqueness of Ukrainian history and culture. The destruction of this building from the architectural and cultural face of Chernihiv is an irreparable loss of the cultural and historical heritage of Ukraine.
Before
On March 11th, 2022, the Chernihiv regional library for children and youth, which survived the Bolshevik shelling of 1918-19 and World War II under German Nazi bombs, was destroyed by an air strike of Russian troops.
After
