Echoes from East Street

Long before museums became formal spaces and history lived behind glass, culture unfolded freely in the open yard of the Institute of Jamaica on East Street.

For one Kingston child, that yard was more than a place — it was a living classroom.

“I was allowed to hang out in the yard of the Institute of Jamaica,” recalls Franklyn McDonald, retired Jamaican geologist, environmentalist, and former Head of ODP. “All these stories and events occurred right there.”

At the time, the space held more than people and memories. It also housed animals — even crocodiles — forming a small, informal zoo tucked behind the Institute. Years later, those animals would be transferred to what we now know as Hope Zoo, quietly linking East Street to one of Jamaica’s most familiar green spaces.

This overlooked detail reminds us that Jamaican history didn’t only unfold in grand halls or official records. It lived in shared spaces — yards, conversations, childhood wanderings — where education, culture, and community blended naturally.

Today, East Street may look different, but its echoes remain, reminding us that our cultural institutions were once deeply human, accessible and alive.

Contributed by: Kathy Gayle
Memory from: Franklyn McDonald, Retired Jamaican Geologist & Environmentalist; Former Head of O.D.P.