Kilmarnock
The poets first ever work "Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect" (later know as the "Kilmarnock Edition") was published in Kilmarnock in 1786, by John Wilson it was so popular that it sold out within one month of going to print.
Dean Castle in Kilmarnock, home to the international Burns Federation, has a number of important Burns artefacts, although not all on display, there are over 1500 manuscripts, personal relics paints and prints house at Dean Castle. For the more quirky Burnsian you could even catch a glimpse of and original pair of Jean Armours shoes!
Dean Castle has a significant country park, which is open to the public and its also worth a look around their visitor centre.
The Dick Institute is another area of Kilmarnock which has a good collection of burns memorabilia. Many of the pieces from The McKie Burns Collection (one of Burns first printers - although not the first), are on display here in the main gallery. The Dick Institute has two art galleries and three museum galleries, so after you've finished perusing the Burns stock why not prolong your stay and view some of the other pieces of art on display.
Travel around Scotland learning about Burns
