The Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies (TALIM) is the only historic landmark of the United States located abroad, designated as such by the U. S. Department of the Interior. From 1821 until 1956, the U.S. diplomatic mission to Morocco was located here in the old walled Medina of Tangier. With the end of the French and Spanish Protectorates in 1956, all diplomatic missions moved from Tangier to the capital, Rabat. The American Legation building continued as the Consulate General for another five years until a new Consulate General was built outside the old Medina. For the next fourteen years, the historic building served as an Arabic language school for American diplomats and then as the Peace Corps training center.

In 1975 the Peace Corps moved out. By then the Old American Legation (as it is known in Tangier) was in a sad state of repair. Concerned for its fate, the Consul General in Tangier (Harland H. Eastman), the Deputy Chief of Mission in Rabat (Carlton S. Coon) and the Public Affairs Officer in Rabat (James N. Tull) joined forces to restore as much of the building as possible by July 4, 1976. No funds were available so repairs over the winter were largely the work of Consulate General. Welcome assistance came from Embassy Marines who drove up on days off to paint, The Kenitra Naval Base donated paint and other materials and several Tangier residents contributed funds. Twenty-five of the Legation’s rooms, furnished with maps, prints and paintings donated by Donald Angus and Marguerite McBey, were ready in time for America’s bicentennial. The Legation Museum officially opened on July 2, 1976.

As work went forward in Tangier, a group of supporters in Washington established The Tangier American Legation Museum Society (TALMS), a public, non-profit organization, which was incorporated in the District of Columbia. TALMS then leased the Legation from the Department of State and began raising funds to assure its future. The Society ever since has operated a museum and cultural center at the Legation with one American employee, the Director/Curator. The Tangier American Legation Museum Society (TALMS) changed its name in 2008 to Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies (TALIM).

The Legation has been involved in Moroccan-American diplomacy for centuries. 
Morocco was the first country to recognize the United States, in December 1777 with the hope of promoting commerce with the new republic. This act by the Moroccan sultan was the first public recognition of the U.S. by a head of state.  However, it was not until1786 that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson –both serving respectively as American ambassadors in London and Paris-- appointed Thomas Barclay to negotiate a formal treaty of friendship and commerce with Morocco. Barclay reached Marrakech in June 1786 and the treaty was concluded two weeks later.  It was forwarded to Jefferson and Adams for their signatures and sent to Congress for approval. It represents the first treaty signed by the United States with an Arab, African, and Muslim power.  This 1786 treaty was recognized by the State Department in 1967 as being “the longest unbroken treaty relationship in United States history.”

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