Tangier American Legation Museum — Attraction in arrondissement de Tanger-Medina طنجة المدينة

We were really looking forward to visiting the Tangier American Legation Museum as fans of Paul Bowles, having heard that some of his work was featured here. Unfortunately, the experience was quite disappointing.

When we arrived, we were immediately rushed by a security guard and the staff at the ticket desk, who insisted we buy tickets without giving us any proper introduction to what was inside. We were a large group, and not everyone was planning to tour the full exhibition, so some of us wanted to just browse the gift shop or wait in the entry area. But the staff continued to pressure us to pay and gave very little explanation about the museum or what we might see.

When we said we were probably not going to visit the full exhibition and just wanted to check out the gift shop, they told us to leave and didn’t even allow us to step into the shop. It felt unwelcoming and unnecessarily strict. Sadly, the poor service overshadowed what could have been a culturally...

What an amazing place; anyone who is interested in the history of the US/Moroccan relationship should come here. It was used as the American Consulate (Legation) for 140 years from 1821 to 1961. Between 1961 & and 1970, it was used as an Arabic language school for US diplomats, then later as a centre for the Peace Corps. The place is full of history with photos, paintings, and furnishings from its past. There is a special collection of paintings in the Zanka gallery of expatriate artists paying homage to Morocco. The building complex extends either side of the "Rue D' Amerique" with the buildings linked via the first floor terrace. Well worth paying the DAM 50 entrance as this is a non-profit US NGO relying on ticket sales & donations to fund its...

Poorly exhibited at the start, hard to follow what was going on , or where to turn your head next within the house causing disjointed information and reading non linear history. 50 DH each from what we can remember.

That being said after the initial bits of American history the house opened up into a lovely square where we were able to sit and admire the stacked terraced roofs , bountiful flower boxes and the blue blue sky of Tangier. We recommend coming for the not the exhibition.

Towards the end , the Paul Bowles exhibit highlighted the influence he took from Tangier and the rest of Morocco , we’ll be downloading his Moroccan LP field recordings in due course…

Bonus ambience if American tourists are there...