The Tangier American Legation Museum or TALIM as it is more commonly referred to is a portal looking not just into the growth of the world power of the 21st Century but the blooming ties between this outpost of North Africa and the US. The 5-storey complex began as a humble, stone structure donated by the Sultan Moulay Suleiman as a gesture of goodwill before gradually expanding into the establishment it now is. The monochrome framework is the first piece of American real estate constructed abroad, earning it the title of the only US National Historic Landmark not found within its borders.

The building’s escapades as a shelter for Jews, tactical outpost of covert operations and a US consul have left it with a reservoir of stories to reveal to its visitors through interactive displays and material manifestations. Hand woven in typical Morccan fashion is a carpet picturing the infamous Stars and Stripes. The somber, penetrating gaze of Zohra, servant girl of the artist James McBey is dubbed the Moroccan Mona Lisa, part of the McBey Collection displayed within the museum featuring over 40 artists from 11 countries. This is just a fraction of the 700 odd installations of art in a variety of media from embroidery to clothing, meant to reflect the deep rooted melding of the two cultures since the start of their relations.

Climbing up three flights of stairs will bring you to the viewing gallery framing the perfect view of the expansive Straits of Gibraltar and the bustling harbor by the city, the street vendors and miniature figures roaming the streets an amusing sight to behold. Cemented through time and shared stories, the close ties between the two nations are fully revealed within the corridors of the TALIM.