Podcast: Roots and Traces of Contemporary Cultural Life in Tangier

By: George Bajalia and Aida Alami In this discussion at Youmein 2021: Roots and Traces, anthropologist George Bajalia and journalist Aida Alami explore the roots and traces of contemporary cultural life in Tangier, especially as they relate to northern Morocco’s border regions.  From questions of diversity and difference to the roots of present debates around … Read more Podcast: Roots and Traces of Contemporary Cultural Life in Tangier


Marguerite McBey and the Creation of the Tangier American Legation Museum

It is not an exaggeration to say that the Legation Museum owes much of its existence to the vision and generosity of one of Tangier’s truly grand women: Marguerite McBey, née Loeb, daughter of Philadelphia and forever a guardian of Tangier. In a richly fascinating obituary of Marguerite McBey in the Guardian, we learn of … Read more Marguerite McBey and the Creation of the Tangier American Legation Museum


Visit our new virtual tour

TALIM has launched an updated virtual tour, with support from the US Embassy in Morocco. The new tour was developed by filmmaker Ayoub El Jamal, former TALIM Outreach Coordinator. English narrations were done by Laissa Alexis and Grace Olson, both Wellesley College interns, and TALIM Director John Davison. Arabic narrations are provided by our Curator … Read more Visit our new virtual tour


Diplomatic note on the “Lamentable News of Death by Assassination of Abraham Lincoln”

On the Eve of Juneteenth, we share with you a copy of the 1865 diplomatic note that hangs in the Legation’s Museum (a gift of the Forbes family): Consulate General of the United States of America, Tangier28 April, 1865. Gentlemen: — The lamentable news of the death by assassination of Abraham Lincoln, President of the … Read more Diplomatic note on the “Lamentable News of Death by Assassination of Abraham Lincoln”


My Search for the First American Consulate and the Original Mount Washington

By Lawrence Peskin, AIMS Fellow/Morgan State University Most discussions of the U.S. presence in Tangier do not really go back before 1821. This is readily understandable. Everyone wants to know about the interzone years and the fascinating flock of “accidentals” (Elena Prentice’s term) who arrived here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Additionally, … Read more My Search for the First American Consulate and the Original Mount Washington


Peace “Corps-ner” Display at the Legation

In anticipation of our 2021 Bicentennial year, we added in 2019 to our Museum a “Peace Corps-ner” display honoring the different contributions made by a previous occupant of the Legation, the United States Peace Corps, whose volunteers and Moroccan staff, under the leadership of then Morocco Peace Corps Director Richard Holbrooke (diplomat and Negotiator of the … Read more Peace “Corps-ner” Display at the Legation


Harland Eastman: The Rescue and Transformation of the Tangier American Legation

Retired U.S. Foreign Service Office Harland Eastman served as Consul-General in Tangier in 1976, the year that the Department of State agreed to allow the Tangier American Legation to be converted into a private museum honoring the historic U.S.-Moroccan friendship. In this podcast, Emily Albrecht of Dartmouth College interviews Mr. Eastman, who recounts the enormous efforts made to restore the Legation in time for the celebrations of the U.S. Bicentennial. Ms. Albrecht’s interviews form part of a series of oral histories she recorded for her senior honors thesis, entitled, “Mapping Memories, Creating History: The Tangier American Legation” (May 2016).

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The First Full Day of TALIM’s 40th Anniversary Events

The courtyard and terrace approximately 40 years ago
The courtyard and terrace approximately 40 years ago

Today was the first full day of events held to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Tangier American Legation Museum, now the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies (TALIM).  The events are being held in conjunction with the annual meetings of the TALIM Board and Fellows.  Ordinarily the meetings are held in the US, but this year they are being held in Tangier to mark this milestone anniversary.

Today’s events consisted of a tour of the new Tanger Med Port, a visit to the museum and ruins at Ksar Sghir, a visit to the Grottes d’Hercule (Cave of Hercules) and finally a social event at the home of Elena Prentice, TALIM Board Member and longtime resident of Tangier, at her charming villa.

Join us tomorrow for TALIM’s 40th Anniversary Conference at Legation.

Read moreThe First Full Day of TALIM’s 40th Anniversary Events


Showcasing US Embassy Support for the Restoration of Ksar Sghir

Defenders of historical preservation in Morocco were honored to attend ceremonies last week showcasing US Embassy support to restore the archaeological site at Ksar Sghir, a fortress that was built under the Marinid Sultan Abou Youssef Yacoub in the 13th century. We urge you to visit the site and its wonderful new museum.

Below are are the texts and photographs from a Facebook post from the Embassy of the United States in Rabat about the event, first in Arabic, then in English.

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Read moreShowcasing US Embassy Support for the Restoration of Ksar Sghir