An exhibition, organized by the Archives State Agency, in partnership with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences’ Scientific Archives and the Bulgarian news agency BTA presents landmark moments from the 120-year long history of Bulgarian-American diplomatic relations. 

• Exhibition marks 120 years of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and USA

• Burgas marks 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and USA

The idea for the exposition called “Discovering America. 120 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Bulgaria and the United States” belongs to the Foreign Ministry's Americas Directorate.

“This exposition presents a broader canvas of bilateral cultural, religious and economic relations between the two nations, even before official relations were established,” said in his address Assoc. Prof. Mihail Gruev, Director of the Archives State Agency.

The first section of the exhibition shows the various American protestant missions in the Bulgarian lands, as well as the work of the oldest American school outside the US – Robert College in Istanbul, attended by the first generation of intellectuals and politicians who were to become the builders of modern Bulgaria, and outlines the “discovery” of America by Bulgarians, starting with Aleko Konstantinov and his book “To Chicago and back”, and going on to the wave of Bulgarian emigrants from the turn of the 20^th century.

The focus of the exhibition is on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1903, and the way they developed during the years of World War I and afterwards when the US was the only great power favourably disposed to Bulgaria in the context of the Versailles order. 

Attention is also given to the American foundations which took part in the restoration of Bulgaria after World War I, as well as to the lowest points in bilateral relations, such as Bulgaria’s declaration of war on the US in December 1941, and the severing of diplomatic relations in 1950. 

The last section of the exhibition presents Bulgaria-US relations after World War II, bilateral summit visits, and the bilateral agreements signed.

The exhibition is on in the exhibition hall of the Archives State Agency until 31 August, 2023, 9 AM to 5.30 PM on workdays.

Compiled by Gergana Mancheva
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova

Photos: BTA