The Embassy of the United States in Lima is the official diplomatic mission of the U.S. to the

Republic of Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

. The current U.S. ''chargé d'Affaires'' to Peru is John T. McNamara.

History

Original buildings

Peru and the United States established relations on May 2, 1826, following Peru's independence from Spain, and relations were elevated to embassy level on 1920. The embassy of the United States was housed in different buildings before the opening of its current location. Prior to relations being elevated to embassy, the legation was located at the

Quinta Heeren The Quinta Heeren, formerly known as the Quinta del Carmen, is one of the first private residence condominiums built in Lima around the 1880s. History Originally called ''Quinta del Carmen'' due to its proximity to the church of the same name in ...

. In 1925, the

U.S. government The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States, a federal republic located primarily in North America, composed of 50 states, a city within a fede ...

purchased a property in the

Santa Beatriz Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnight ...

area of Lima district to house its embassy. The three-floor building was designed by U.S. architect Frederick Larkin, in association with Leland W. King and Paul Jaquet, being built by the Peruvian construction company ''Florez y Costa, S.A.''. Construction began in late 1942. of the property were dedicated to parks and gardens. The building was designed in a Neocolonial style, featuring a replica travertine marble gate of the

Palacio de Torre Tagle The Palacio de Torre Tagle is a building built during the colonial era of Peru that currently serves as the main headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru. It is located in the Jirón Ucayali in the historic center of Lima, two blo ...

on its entrance, as well as on the second floor. The three floors of the building served as either storage (basement), a reception area (first floor) or bedrooms (second floor). The building, located next to a replica of '' The Three Graces'' at the fifth block of Arequipa Avenue, and across the street from Washington Square, currently serves as the residence of the

U.S. ambassador Ambassadors of the United States are persons nominated by the President of the United States, president to serve as the country's diplomat, diplomatic representatives to foreign nations, international organizations, and as Ambassador-at-large, ...

. Another building that housed the diplomatic mission of the U.S. was located in the intersection between Wilson Avenue and Spain Avenue, part of the historic center of Lima. The original terrain was bought in 1947. The embassy was moved from its location near the Civic Center to the Monterrico suburbs due to the internal conflict in Peru, as buildings affiliated with the United States were targeted by the terrorist group Shining Path on several occasions, as well as by the MRTA. By that point, the embassy's building had been bought by ''Clínica Internacional'', owned by

Grupo Breca Grupo Breca, also known as Grupo Brescia, is a Peruvian business conglomerate founded more than 130 years ago with operations in Peru and other countries in Latin America. Fortunato Brescia and his wife, Mrs. María Catalina Cafferata, are the g ...

, who moved into the building after the former tenants' departure. The consulate, then located in Miraflores district, also was moved to the new chancery in Monterrico, as it was also targeted on at least one occasion. One such attack was carried out on July 31, 1985.

Current building

The current building was built on the Monterrico residential area of

Santiago de Surco Santiago de Surco, commonly known simply as Surco, is a district of Lima, Peru. It is bordered on the north with the district of Ate Vitarte and La Molina; on the east with San Juan de Miraflores, on the west with San Borja, Surquillo, Mirafl ...

. Construction took two years, and the building was inaugurated on July 4, 1995. The building was designed by Bernardo Fort-Brescia, whose façade features a blend of Incan and modern architecture, also features small windows as a security feature. The building's design was met with mixed reactions from both Peruvian and U.S. citizens. In 2002, two security guards of the embassy were among the dead when a car bomb exploded in the ''El Polo'' shopping mall, located across the street. The building received no apparent damage, unlike the hotel and bank located near the location of the blast. The building's façade was

lit up "Lit Up" is the debut single by American hard rock band Buckcherry, taken from their self-titled debut album. It was the band's first and only number one song on the ''Billboard'' Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols pl ...

with the

national colors National colours are frequently part of a country's set of national symbols. Many states and nations have formally adopted a set of colours as their official "national colours" while others have ''de facto'' national colours that have become well ...

of Ukraine in response to Russia's invasion of the country on February 2022. On January 25, 2023, the building's main entrance was blocked by protesters as part of a series of protests by supporters of former president Pedro Castillo.

Gallery

Casa de Mr. R. R. Neill, Quinta Heeren (cropped).jpg, U.S. Legation at the

Lima - Chancery Office Building - 1979 - DPLA - 9859a5599e2fadaf904cf77089adddf1.jpg, Residence in

, 1979 Lima - Chancery Office Building - 1979 - 59-OBO-736-PM S 799.jpg, The former embassy in central Lima, today the ''Clínica Internacional''. US Embassy light in blue and yellow to express solidarity with Ukraine.jpg, The embassy lit up with the

national colours of Ukraine The national colours of Ukraine are usually identified as the combination of blue and gold in that order. These colours are the same as in the flag of Ukraine. The roots of Ukrainian national colours come from before Christian times when yellow ...

, February 2022

References

{{coord, display=title Diplomatic missions of the United States United States Peru–United States relations Buildings and structures in Lima Buildings and structures completed in 1995 Brescia family Santiago de Surco District

History

Original buildings

Current building

Gallery

See also

References