American Legation, Tangier, Government building and cultural center in Medina, Morocco.
The Legation is a multi-story complex covering over 1,500 square meters, with whitewashed walls, wooden balustrades and interior courtyards typical of North African design. Rooms are arranged around open-air patios on several levels, connected by narrow staircases and corridors that lead to rooftop terraces overlooking the old quarter.
Morocco was the first nation to recognize American independence, signing a treaty in 1786, and the sultan gave this compound to the United States three decades later. The mission operated here until 1956 when the embassy moved to Rabat, then private donors restored the property and reopened it as a museum in 1976.
Visitors today walk through rooms where diplomats once worked, with furniture and tilework reflecting both American and local traditions. The galleries display letters, photographs and objects that show how people from two continents built trust and friendship over generations in this very building.
The entrance sits near the Bab Merican gate in the medina, reachable on foot through narrow lanes. The rooms are open during daytime hours and suit those who prefer quiet exploration of archives and old furnishings at their own pace.
The compound was never purchased or leased but given as a direct gift by the Moroccan ruler, an unusual arrangement for diplomatic property. Original handwritten letters from Moroccan sultans to American presidents still hang in some rooms, complete with red wax seals on aged parchment.
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