The exhibition ‘From the Atlantic to the Pacific: Queen Maria’s Visit to America’, marking the centenary of the former sovereign’s trip to the United States and Canada, one of the significant milestones in Romania’s diplomacy and international representation during the interwar period, will open on Tuesday at the headquarters of the National Archives of Romania.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES, the opening event will feature speeches by Academician Georgeta Filitti, a historian specialising in modern Romanian history, the Phanariot period and Romanian-Greek relations; Laura Gheorghiu, Director of the Diplomatic Archives Directorate within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Stefania Dinu, scientific consultant for the exhibition and Deputy Director-General of the National Cotroceni Museum; Daniel Cosmin Obreja, collector; Mioara Iofciulescu, Director of the Academy of Handmade Art; Alina Pavelescu, Deputy Director of the National Archives of Romania; and Mirela Tirna, curator of the exhibition.

The exhibition offers a journey back to the atmosphere of 1926, retracing the stages of the trip through historical documents and period photographs.

Visitors will be able to discover both the official events of the visit and its coverage in the press of the time, as well as the response it received from ordinary Americans, for whom the Queen’s charm was a major attraction.

The event is organised by the National Archives of Romania in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diplomatic Archives Unit and collector Daniel Cosmin Obreja.

The exhibition is complemented by objects from the ‘Queen Maria’ collection, belonging to the Academy of Handmade Art, which help recreate the atmosphere of the period.

The exhibition will be open to visitors from October 21 2026 to January 24 2027 in the exhibition space of the National Archives of Romania.

Between October and November 1926, Queen Maria undertook an extensive tour of the United States and Canada, accompanied by Princess Ileana and Prince Nicolae. From her arrival in New York to official meetings, public ceremonies and visits to American communities, the Queen captured the attention of the public and the press.

The trip provided an important opportunity to promote Romania internationally. Through speeches and meetings with representatives of American political and social life, Queen Maria helped strengthen the country’s image abroad at a time when the international recognition of Greater Romania was of particular importance. AGERPRES (RO – writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN – writing by: Cristina Zaharia)