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Mailing Address
National Museum of American Diplomacy
SA-9, Room NE 10003
Washington, DC 20522-0910
Physical Address
National Museum of American Diplomacy
330 21st St NW
Washington DC 20006
"I was determined that we were going to get through this as a community even if as individuals we staggered and stumbled now and then.”
—U.S. Ambassador Prudence Bushnell (1/9)"
“Northeast China was not the center of great external relations with the rest of the world... and we were just beginning to build. So there was caution, hesitation and uncertainty.” - Ruth Kurzbauer (1/4)
"I was determined that we were going to get through this as a community even if as individuals we staggered and stumbled now and then.” —U.S. Ambassador Prudence Bushnell
On August 7, 1998, at 10:30am, U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania fell victim to coordinated and nearly simultaneous truck bombs – later linked to the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.
At U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya, the explosion reduced the interior of the five-story reinforced concrete chancery to rubble. Over 200 people were killed and an estimated 4,000 wounded.
At U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the force of the blast propelled a filled water tanker over three stories into the air, crashing into the chancery building. Eleven people were killed and over 85 people injured.
At the time of the bombing, U.S. Ambassador Prudence Bushnell was meeting with the Kenyan Minister of Commerce in the high-rise bank building across from the embassy’s rear parking lot. She attended this meeting with two colleagues from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
When the explosion hit, everyone in the meeting was blown to the floor and injured by glass and debris. U.S. Commercial Officer Riz Khaliq assisted Ambassador Bushnell down several flights of stairs and out of the building.
Ambassador Bushnell was wearing this green suit to the meeting at the time of the attack. Still visible on the suit are her bloodstains from the head injury she sustained. Ambassador Bushnell likely never intended for this suit to have historical significance, but it helps highlight her unique story and experience, which, when told alongside other stories, helps us share the history of diplomacy from those who shaped it.
If you or someone you know has an artifact like this, please consider donating it to our museum and helping us share your story with the world. Learn more here. diplomacy.state.gov/contribute-to-the-collection/
“Northeast China, except for Russia and Japan, was not the center of great external relations with the rest of the world...There were many institutions who had little or no external contacts, not only with Americans but with other countries. And we were just beginning to build. So there was caution, hesitation and uncertainty.” - Ruth Kurzbauer
U.S.-China relations would not look the same without the contributions of diplomat Ruth Kurzbauer, who used her creativity, cultural curiosity, and networking skills to open doors and build trust with Chinese Government officials and Chinese citizens during the late 80s and early 90s.
Her Chinese diplomatic identification card, issued to her in 1990, reflects the uniqueness of her work. Serving during an era both formative and turbulent, this ID stands as a testament to Ruth’s commitment to fostering diplomacy.
To read more about the groundbreaking contributions of Ruth and explore the impact of key women in diplomacy, please visit our online #HerDiplomacy exhibit linked below. diplomacy.state.gov/explore-online-exhibits/herdiplomacy/
Join us and the American Foreign Service Association on September 22 at 1:00pm EDT for a special Diplomacy Classroom! We’ll explore the firsthand experiences of America’s diplomats who worked to mount a response to the COVID-19 Crisis. Learn more and register today ⬇️
www.facebook.com/events/931202694053392/