2026 loan exhibit

Marks of Friendship:
250 Years of U.S. Diplomatic Treasures

Chairs: Marcia Mayo and Andrea Tracey

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Sponsors:
Fund to Conserve United States Diplomatic Treasures Abroad →
Department of State Office of Cultural Heritage →

Marks of Friendship: 250 Years of U.S. Diplomatic Treasures will tell America’s story through the lens of diplomacy abroad, from Africa to Europe and from Asia to South America. By showcasing these artifacts, the exhibit will highlight the State Department’s mission of cultural diplomacy and create visibility for its mission within the continental United States. Through partnerships with governmental institutions in public spaces, the State Department aims to express themes of diplomacy, security, and cultural collaboration.

This exhibition takes inspiration from Charles Wilson Peale’s Museum housed in Independence Hall, circa 1784 to 1849. This cabinet of curiosities, or Wunderkammer, stored and exhibited a wide variety of objects and artifacts, with leanings toward the rare, eclectic, and esoteric. His selection of objects told a particular story about the world and its history.

The State Department’s collections will be used in just such a way, telling America’s story through the lens of American diplomacy abroad. From Africa to Western Europe, to Asia and South America, the exhibit will span the globe through an expression of collections that belong to the American people, all while highlighting the State Department’s mission of cultural diplomacy. The State Department hopes to make its collection visible to an audience in the continental United States through partnerships with governmental institutions working in public spaces, ultimately expressing its mission of diplomacy, security, and cultural partnerships..

“I present to you the sincere acknowledgements and thanks of the United States for the important mark of your friendship...”

— President George Washington, December 1, 1789 to the Sultan of Morocco formalizing America’s first diplomatic relationship

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