Abstract
<jats:p>The purpose of the article is to examine the museum network of the Chernihiv region as a system-forming factor of local history tourism. The study reveals the historical stages of the development of regional museum institutions, from the first initiatives of the late nineteenth century to the contemporary period marked by digitalization and the challenges of wartime. It is determined that from the moment of their establishment, museums of the Chernihiv region have performed not only a preservation function but also an educational and outreach role, thereby forming the foundation for the development of cultural and educational tourism. The role of museum institutions as infrastructural hubs of the tourism network is scientifically substantiated, as they ensure the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of the historical and cultural heritage of the region. The methodological basis of the research consists of the principles of historicism, systematicity, and integrity, implemented through the application of historical-genetic, comparative-analytical, and culturological methods. The source base includes scholarly publications, official statistical data, and electronic resources of museums. Particular attention is paid to leading institutions, including the V. V. Tarnovskyi Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum and the national reserves “Ancient Chernihiv,” “Hetman Capital,” “Kachanivka,” and “The Tale of Ihor’s Campaign,” whose activities form the core of the museum and tourism infrastructure of the region. The functioning of peripheral museums in Nizhyn, Pryluky, Sosnytsia, Ichnia, Korop, and other settlements is also analyzed. The scientific novelty of the study lies in a comprehensive consideration of the museum system of the Chernihiv region as a unified communication space that integrates research, heritage protection, cultural and educational, and tourism activities. For the first time, regional museums are defined as infrastructural hubs of local history tourism, acting not only as repositories of cultural values but also as active factors in shaping the tourism offer. Contemporary trends in the development of the museum sector are highlighted in the context of decentralization, international partnership, and post-war restoration of cultural infrastructure. Conclusions. The museum network of the Chernihiv region emerges as an integral institutional system that plays a leading role in shaping the tourist image of the region. Through the combination of collection management, exhibition, research, and communication activities, museums ensure the integration of historical and cultural heritage into the tourism sphere and contribute to establishing the Chernihiv region as an important center of cultural and educational tourism in Northern Ukraine. Keywords: museums, Chernihiv region, local history tourism, cultural heritage, museum network, tourism infrastructure.</jats:p>