American Legation Museum

History

Morocco was one of the first countries to recognise the newly independent United States, and in 1821 Sultan Moulay Slimane gave the Americans a building in the Tangier medina for their diplomatic mission. It was the first property the United States owned abroad, and it is often described as the only US National Historic Landmark on foreign soil.

Today the building is home to a museum and cultural centre, the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies.

What to see

• Paintings and drawings of Tangier and Morocco
• Historic maps and documents from the city’s diplomatic past
• A wing dedicated to the writer and composer Paul Bowles, who lived in Tangier for decades
• Courtyards and terraces with views over the medina and the port

Tips

• Opening days and hours vary, so check before you go.
• It is a calm place to escape the bustle of the souks for an hour.
• The museum is a short walk downhill from the Petit Socco.