Robert Burns Birthplace Museum – in pictures

As well as the major new exhibition space housing the world’s most important collection of his life and works, the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum comprises the Burns Cottage where the poet was born, the historic landmarks where he set his greatest work, and a monument and gardens created in his honour. Photograph: John Sinclair

Upon entering the museum's exhibition space, visitors are greeted by the poet's writing desk and chair Photograph: PR

A pupil from Alloway Primary School in Ayrshire tries out one of the museum's many interactive elements Photograph: Wattie Cheung Photography

Rather humbler than the new museum, but within a few minutes' walk, the Burns Cottage is where the bard was born in 1759 Photograph: John Sinclair

Scotland's freshly-appointed makar Liz Lochhead officially opened the museum on Friday. Photograph: Lenny Warren / Warren Media

Kenyan Findlay (4) and Shaun Chalmers (4) enjoy the museum's interactive Burns Supper Photograph: Wattie Cheung

The museum's Fame display tracks the bard's rise from ploughman poet to global icon. The Last Supper, shown here, was created by Iain McIntosh Photograph: PR

The Scots language is a major feature of the new exhibits, designed to enhance understanding of the bard's 'mither tongue' Photograph: John Sinclair

The Chapter and Verse display, exploring the long association of Burns's verse with music includes amongst the objects on display Burns's own guitar (right). Photograph: PR

Kenyan Findlay, four, meets a not so wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie in the form of artist Kenny Hunter's 7ft cast iron sculpture 'Monument to a Mouse' which is installed on the Poet's Path in the museum grounds Photograph: Wattie Cheung