The Burns Centenary Procession At Dumfries: Triple Arch In The High Street

A steel plate engraving of the procession to mark the centenary of Robert Burns' birth.   The first centenary of the birth of Robert Burns was commemorated on the 25th of January 1859. The celebrations were instigated by Dumfries Burns Club but the Town Council of Dumfries and townspeople in general combined to make the celebrations an impressive event.   A feature of the day was the public procession, organised by the Mechanics' Institute. A great town dinner was held for more than 1,000 people in the Nithsdale Mills. A concert in the Theatre Royal and a series of balls were other aspects of the celebrations.   This engraving is taken from the report of the events carried by the "Illustrated London News" and has been hand coloured. It shows the procession passing the fountain in the High Street and the arches of foliage used to decorate the street.