Go To The American Legation In Tangiers

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Housed in the only historic landmark of the United States abroad, the Tangier American Legation Museum (TALM) retraces the history of the relationship between the United States and Morocco. It was the first property acquired abroad by the United States Government and the first to achieve historic landmark designation in a foreign country. It is symbolic of the 1786 Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship, which is still in force today.

The diplomatic mission to Morocco operated from here from 1821 until 1956. The end of the French Protectorate at that time saw all embassies moving to the capital, Rabat. The American Legation served as Consulate for a further five years until a new Consulate was built outside the walls of the old Medina. This 140 year period was the longest any building abroad had been occupied as a United States diplomatic post. In the following years, its use by the United States Government included Peace Corps offices and an Arabic language school for diplomats until it was abandoned. It became neglected and threatened with demolition.

A concerned group of American Citizens established a public, non-profit organization to ensure its continued existence. Since 1976, TALM has been operating a museum and cultural center in the building.

Apart from the interest of the building itself, some very interesting items can be viewed in the museum. On display is a letter from George Washington to Moulay Abdallah, a collection of mirrors and works by Lecouteux and Ben Ali R'Bati, the first Moroccan "naif" painter. It includes a room devoted to the expatriate writer and composer Paul Bowles. The museum also features a library and conference center.