The Institute of Jamaica is the country's principal cultural and scientific institution, established in 1879. Its main campus on East Street in Downtown Kingston houses the National Library of Jamaica, the Jamaica Natural History Division, and the museum collections, including the Natural History Museum on nearby East Street.
The Natural History Museum of Jamaica occupies a separate building on nearby East Street and covers the island's geology, flora, fauna, and marine life. It is a serious scientific institution that happens to operate public galleries, and the exhibits — particularly on Jamaica's endemic species and its complex geological origins — are more substantive than the typical heritage-centre approach. The library's reading room holds an extraordinary archive of Jamaican newspapers, maps, and manuscripts dating to the 17th century, accessible to researchers with a day pass.