Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
The legendary Robert Burns is known by many titles, such as the Bard of Ayshire, the Ploughman Poet and The Bard. He was born on 25 January 1759 in Alloway, and was followed by seven siblings. His father was a farmer who built the house that Burns was born in, now known as the Burns Cottage Museum, which forms part of the Burns National Heritage Park. He was seven when his father sold the house and moved the family to Mount Oliphant, where he grew up in extreme poverty and endured hours of hard manual labor.
Burns managed to work his way out of his difficult lifestyle, and went on to become one of Scotland’s most celebrated poets and lyricists. He not only wrote in English, but also in a Scots dialect. He traveled through Scotland, finding inspiration around the country, always with an inkwell, goose-quill nibs and sharpening knife on hand to pen down quotes and poems, and was known to enjoy working outside. Some of his most popular works include Auld Lang Syne, A Man’s A Man for A’That, Tam o’Shanter, To A Mouse, Scots Wha Hae and To A Louse. In 1788 he returned to Ayrshire and leased Ellisland Farm. It is reported that it as here where he created some of his most famous works. He passed away on 21 July 1796, and after his death, his work became more iconic and inspired many generations who followed.
The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum consists of several buildings, but is made up by the Burns Cottage, a modern museum that is home to collections of some of his most famous work, as well as landmarks and gardens.
The new museum, in honor of Robert Burns, had some delays in opening to the public due to funding issues, but is now one of the most comprehensive museums in regard to Burns. Its exhibits include his desk on which his writing equipment is displayed, more than five hundred manuscripts, his family Bible and even a cast of this icon’s skull. All in all, the museum boasts a collection of more than five thousand artifacts and items of memorabilia. Exploring the life of this magnificent poet, who contributed so much to Scotland and its literary world, is interesting and fascinating.
