US Celebrates 200 Years of Historic American Legation in Tangier, Morocco

The American Legation, the only and historic diplomatic property of the USA in the world and present in Morocco, has hosted various events in American, Moroccan and world history, especially the negotiation of the Cap Spartel Treaty, the agreements concluded between Morocco and the United States for greater ease in navigation and trade, said David Greene, chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Rabat during a ceremony at the Legation. Moreover, during World War II, the Legation was of great help, especially during the planning operations of the Allies in North Africa and represented the decoding center for Nazi correspondence.

In addition, the Legation is also well recognized in the Medina thanks to its sentries and Marines, present at its entrance. Following Morocco’s independence, the Legation became more cultural, then transformed into a diplomatic language institute, and later, into a Peace Corps volunteer training center in the 1960s. Since 1970, the Legation has housed a museum, a cultural center and a research library under the governance of the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies (TALIM).

It should be noted that the activities of the bicentennial celebration will not stop in Tangier. In this sense, a cultural and educational program has been developed by the US Embassy in partnership with Moroccans. There will also be a traveling museum exhibition at the National Library of Morocco from June 10 to the end of September.