WHAT IT IS
• Only museum in France devoted to the friendship between France and the U.S
• Paintings, sculptures, objects, documents and memorabilia with a French-American connection
• More than 15,000 items in the collections
• Franco-American archives
• A French national museum
• Beautiful seasonal gardens
LOCATION
In Picardy, the town of Blérancourt (l’Aisne département), 70 miles from Paris
HISTORY
• Housed in the 17th century Château of Blérancourt designed by architect Salomon de Brosse (who went on to design the Palace of Luxembourg)
• Founded in 1924 by Anne Morgan (a daughter of J.P. Morgan)
• The château was originally a base of operations in support of French forces during WWI and philanthropic work for the civilian population in its aftermath
CURRENT NEWS
“American Women Rebuilding France 1917-1924”, a traveling exhibition
• Vintage B&W photos from the Anne Morgan Archives have been showing all over the U.S. since 2010
• Seen by more than 100,000 people
• The exhibition has appeared at: the National World War I Museum (Kansas City), the Morgan Library (New York), the Woodrow Wilson House (Washington, D.C.), the Newberry Library (Chicago), the Molly Brown House (Denver), several chapters of the Alliance Française, among other venues, and is currently at the Coral Gables Museum
WHAT THERE IS TO VISIT
Although the Museum has been closed for several years for a major renovation and expansion project, people continue to visit all year round the two pavilions: one the home of Anne Morgan, the other, the library (research by appointment), and the lovely gardens.
LATEST NEWS
• The Franco-American Museum is scheduled to re-open in February 2017
• Noted French architect Yves Lion is the designer of the Museum’s expansion project
• The Museum will include a brand new educational wing
ALSO IN THE AREA
• The nearby museum of Compiègne (a royal residence of Napoléon 1st)
• The railroad car at Rethondes where the Armistice of WWI was signed
• The recently-opened World War I Museum, in Meaux
• Several important U.S. cemeteries and war monuments including: the cemeteries at Meuse Argonne, Seringue-et-Nesles and the Ossuary of Douaumont; and the Chemin des Dames stone quarry,