Due to its prestige in intellectual circles, the architectural beauty of its headquarters building, the importance of its bibliographic collection and also the activities it develops, the Royal Portuguese Reading Cabinet is, in all respects, a notable institution that greatly dignifies Portugal in the Brazil.

On May 14, 1837, a group of 43 Portuguese emigrants from Rio de Janeiro – and it should be noted that this occurred only 15 years after the country’s Independence – met at the house of Dr. António José Coelho Lousada, in the former Rua Direita (today Rua Primeiro de Março), nº 20, and decided to create a library to expand the knowledge of its members and give the opportunity to Portuguese residents in the then capital of the Empire to illustrate their spirit.