Ufa is the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan and before Ivan the Terrible ordered a fortress be built-in Bashkir lands in 1574 (which is considered the year of the foundation of the modern-day city of Ufa), the Bashkirs had their own settlement at this location. As the Bashkir capital, Ufa has several museums with exhibitions showcasing Bashkir culture, including the National Museum of the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Bashkir State Museum of Art. In addition, the city also has an impressive statue of national hero Salavat Yulaev.