In the late 1800s, people started to immigrate in large numbers to western Pennsylvania from Ukraine, many of them finding work as manual laborers in mining and industry.
The cultural heritage of these early immigrants remains vibrant across the area today as organizations, such as Carnegie’s Ukrainian Cultural and Humanitarian Institute, offer art and cultural programs, support for immigrants and refugees, and humanitarian relief for Ukrainians affected by the ongoing Russian war.
Carnegie’s Ukrainian heritage is highly visible — the golden domes of St. Peter & St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church are iconic and eye-catching elements of our borough’s landscape.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Carnegie has seen an influx of Ukrainians arriving in search of safety and security, many of them sponsored by relatives already living here.
At the library, we look for opportunities to engage with the cultures of our community members through displays, programming and special library collections. Last April, we hosted an exhibit of powerful photos documenting some of the long-term effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine, taken by Pittsburgh photographer Michael Haritan.
When he told me that 2026 would mark the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl meltdown, we decided that it would be appropriate for Carnegie to again recognize the disaster. On Saturday, April 25, just one day shy of the anniversary date itself, our program titled Chernobyl 40 Years Later: A Day of Commemoration will do just that.
With the partnership of numerous groups and individuals, we’ve prepared a half-day event that includes elements of history, medicine, chemistry, dance, poetry and even LEGO models.
The event starts at 11 a.m., with a screening of “The Babushkas of Chernobyl” (2015), a moving and beautiful portrait of the group of women who returned to their homes in the evacuated exclusion zone and have lived there for years.
During the film, attendees are also invited to explore an exhibit of Mike Haritan’s photos, with original poetry written in response to the photos by student poets of Carlow University.
The event continues with personal storytelling from several individuals who directly experienced the day of the disaster and live reenactments of interviews with some of the babushkas featured in the film. In an exciting collaboration, Carnegie’s own Kyiv Ukrainian Dance Ensemble will present the world premiere of a new short dance inspired by the Chernobyl disaster that imagines the haunting figure of a baby doll in a gas mask — a powerful photo used as the cover of Mike’s book Chernobyl Aftermath — as a wary survivor encountering resurgent wildlife.
The main event, starting at 1:30 p.m., is a panel discussion that brings together experts in Ukrainian history, radiology, hazardous material safety and medical science for a moderated conversation about the incredibly wide-ranging effects of this singular date in history.
Rounding out the day, we’ll have traditional foods, vendors and the chance to build (and win) an original 84-piece LEGO model of Chernobyl’s Reactor #4.
Whether you’re of Ukrainian ancestry or just want to learn more about an incredibly consequential historic event, we hope you’ll register to join us from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 25 at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall.
To register and find more details, visit CarnegieCarnegie.org.
Walker Evans is the library director of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall.
