Т.Shevchenko Museum and memorial complex

The Taras Shevchenko Memorial Museum is one of the first museums in Kazakhstan and one of the earliest cultural institutions in the world dedicated to the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. It is located in the city of Fort-Shevchenko in the Mangystau Region and was officially opened in 1932. The building that houses the museum was constructed in 1853 and originally served as the summer residence of the commandant of the Novopetrovsk Fort (present-day Fort-Shevchenko).

The museum’s exhibition is dedicated to Taras Shevchenko’s life and creative work during his exile in the Mangystau region from 1850 to 1857. The materials on display cover historical facts related to the poet’s time in this area. In particular, the exhibition includes archival documents, photographs, manuscripts, and copies of his artistic and literary works. The years spent in Kazakhstan represent a significant chapter in Shevchenko’s creative life. He took great interest in the nature of the Kazakh steppe and the lifestyle of the local population. As one of the first European artists to do so, he captured local landscapes on paper. The museum features an extensive collection of materials related to his artistic activity during this period. Of special historical importance is the information that Taras Shevchenko was the first person to plant a tree at the Novopetrovsk Fort.

The museum complex consists of seven exhibition halls, with a total area of 257 square meters. The exhibits are organized systematically to offer visitors an in-depth understanding of Shevchenko’s legacy.

The Taras Shevchenko Memorial Museum is a vivid symbol of the historical and cultural ties between the Kazakh and Ukrainian peoples. It serves not only as a center for preserving and studying the poet’s heritage, but also as a spiritual and cultural space that promotes friendship between the two nations. Through its work, the museum actively popularizes Taras Shevchenko’s legacy and contributes to the development of intercultural relations.