Nassau Public Library and Museum, Nassau

The Nassau Public Library and Museum is both the oldest and the largest library in the country. It was founded by the Bahamas Society for the Diffusion of Knowledge in 1837 as a reading society. The institution became an official library 10 years later.

The building that houses the Nassau Public Library and Museum was built in 1797. Functioning as a jail, the building owes its octagonal design inspiration to the Old Powder Magazine in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Old Powder Magazine is thought to have been designed by Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood in 1714.

The jail was converted into a library in 1873. The prison cells are now used to hold documents, newspapers, charts, books, historic prints and Arawak artifacts. It also has computers with internet access that can be rented for a minimum of 15 minutes at a time.

The Nassau Public Library and Museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5:45 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM to 3:45 PM. It is closed on Sunday.