• Libraries
• Theatres
• Museums

Thirty six libraries supported by Ukraine's Ministry of Culture and Art serve Mykolayiv. Altogether, their collections include three and a half million volumes. The city is also home to a State Regional Scientific Library, one of only three such libraries in Ukraine. There are multiple smaller libraries at the city's various educational institutions.

The Mykolayiv State Regional Scientific Library named after A. Gmyryov is the oldest and largest library in the city. It dates from 11 November 1881. Its holdings - nearly two and a half million books - include many rare specimens.

The Regional Library for Children named after V. Lyagin was the city's first children's library. In 1921, a local enthusiast for children's reading, Polina Tremmer, spearheaded its founding by gathering 152 books and making them available to Mykolayiv's children. Later, the library became regional and its collection expanded. Today, it has 163,000 volumes and serves 11,000 young readers.

In 1923, Children's Reading Room No 1 opened. Today, Central City Children's Library named after Shura Kober and Vitya Khomenko has more than 100,000 books for use by pupils and other young readers.

The Regional Library for Youth was organized in December of 1977, but did not open its doors until May of 1985. Its collection includes 80,000 books.

In August of 1900, the Central Library was founded as a Department of Public Libraries. In 1922, it was given the status of First City District Library. Later, in 1990, it was renamed to honor M.L. Kropyvnyts'kyy, a playwright and actor, composer, and native of Mykolayiv.

Academic Pedagogical Library is one of three Ukrainian libraries of this specialization. Library fund consists of 88 000 copies of printed materials.

Theatres

The Mykolayiv State Russian Drama Theater building on Admiralskaya is architecturally important, a monument to the tastes of the era - the 1880s - when it was constructed. The theatre houses one of Ukraine's oldest collectives, believed to date from 1934.

1959 saw the formation of the Ukrainian Academic Theater of Drama and Musical Comedy.

And 1970 was an important year for young audiences: the Mykolayiv Regional Puppet Theatre opened its doors.

There is a vibrant art scene in Mykolayiv with many galleries displaying the work of both established and emerging artists. Some examples: Expo-center "Mykolayiv", show-room on Nikol's'ka Street and the Gallery "at 45 Spas'ka Street."

Museums

Mykolayiv's Museum of Shipbuilding and the Fleet is the only such museum in Ukraine. It occupies historic Admiral House, which served as home to the General Governor and Commander of the Black Sea Fleet during the years when Mikolayiv was the Fleet's home base. Museum exhibits tell the story of Mykolayiv's shipbuilding and maritime heritage from the earliest days. The museum's collection of ship models is extensive and includes many "ships in a bottle." The Museum was created in 1978.

Archeological findings from the ancient city of Olvia and from the north shores of the Black Sea are exhibited in the Regional Museum of Local Lore. This museum was founded in 1913 to preserve artifacts of the city's history.

The Regional Art Museum named after V.Vereshchagin is situated in a house once occupied by a famous artist. The Museum's collection numbers nearly 10,000 works.

The Museum of Sailors and Paratroopers displays arms and other weapons, and personal effects, of Ukrainian military heroes.

In 1975, the Museum of Underground Partisans opened its doors. This museum's collections recall the World War II heroism of the intelligence detachment led by Hero of the USSR V.A. Lyagin.