The name of Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861) is dear not only to the Ukrainians all over the world. His poems were translated in many languages and inspired many people to struggle for freedom and independence.  Everything about the incredible life and creative abilities of this major figure in Ukrainian literature and art of the 19^th c. one can learn at this museum. It was established in 1949 in the former mansion of  Nickolai Tereschnko (mid-1880s). Its 24 halls display autographs and personals of Taras Shevchenko, his paintings and drawings, books, photographs and other numerous documents, all in all over 4,000 items. The exposition is arranged in chronological order starting from his difficult childhood when he was a serf-boy. Being very talented in drawing he was sent by his landowner to St. Petersburg` where he graduated the Imperial Academy of Arts with honors. His friends redeemed him from serfdom (1838) and helped to publish his first poems (“Kobzar”, 1840). Another great Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko once said: “His poems immediately revealed a new world of poetry. It burst forth like a spring of clear, cold water, and sparkled with a clarity, breadth and elegance of artistic expression not previously known in Ukrainian writing."  Upon return to Kiev in 1845-1846 he was employed by the Archaeological and Ethnographic Commission at the University until his arrest in 1847. Official  version of his arrest – for the participation at  a secret political society “Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius” but the main reason were his poems glorifying the peasants and Cossacks uprisings of the 18^th c. and especially his poem “Dream” that criticized imperial rule and personally the Russian Tsar  and therefore he was considered to be extremely dangerous. 10 years Taras spent in exile as a private of the Russian army near the Ural Mountains. Tsar Nicholas I, confirming his sentence, added to this verdict: "Under the strictest surveillance, with a ban on writing and painting". It was not until 1857 that Shevchenko finally returned from exile but with prohibition to live in big cities and in Ukraine. In 2 years he finally visited his native land for a short time Up till his last days he was dreaming to live in Ukraine. He died in St. Petersburg at the age of 47. Dogged by terrible misfortune in love and life, the poet died seven days before the serfdom that brought slave tortures to his compatriots in Russia was abolished. A visit to the Shevchenko museum will not be only of artistic delight but also will give you another deeper insight into Ukrainian history and understanding of Ukrainian mentality and character.