7 Surprising USA–Malta Connections Every American Traveller Should Know
If you’re an American planning a trip to Malta, you might be expecting ancient temples, blue seas, and medieval cities. What often comes as a genuine surprise is this:
Malta and the United States share a deep, centuries-old history — long before the USA even existed.
From the American Revolution to the Barbary Wars, from the Liberty Bell to World War II, Malta repeatedly appears at pivotal moments in American history. This small Mediterranean island has quietly played an outsized role in the story of American freedom, trade, and global power.
Here are seven remarkable USA–Malta facts that bring that shared history to life — and explain why Malta is such a compelling destination for American travellers who want more than a beach holiday.
1. Maltese Sailors Helped Win American Independence
During the American Revolutionary War, the fledgling United States lacked a strong navy. To challenge Britain at sea, it relied heavily on French naval power — and within that fleet served thousands of sailors from Malta and members of the Knights of St John, yup the same Military order of the 1565 Great Siege of Malta!
Around 1,800 Maltese and Knights fought on the American side, particularly at sea. Their expertise proved decisive in Battle of the Chesapeake, where the French fleet prevented British reinforcements from reaching Yorktown, leading directly to American victory and independence USA. For American visitors, this is a powerful realization:
Malta was helping secure American freedom decades before the Stars and Stripes flew over an independent nation.
2. Benjamin Franklin Gifted America’s First Medal to Malta
In 1783, Benjamin Franklin, serving as U.S. Ambassador to France, commissioned America’s first ever commemorative medal: Libertas Americana.
Almost every medal was given to French allies or U.S. leaders except one.
Franklin personally sent a medal to Emmanuel de Rohan, Grand Master of the Knights of St John in Malta, thanking him for supporting the American cause and asking that American ships be welcomed in Maltese ports.
De Rohan replied warmly, promising hospitality to American citizens and vessels. That correspondence marks the birth of U.S.–Maltese diplomatic relations — and one of the earliest international recognitions of the United States US
Today, surviving Libertas Americana medals sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, underlining their importance in American history.
3. A Maltese Man Helped Cast the Liberty Bell
One of the most iconic symbols of American freedom — the Liberty Bell — carries a surprising Maltese link.
When the original bell cracked, it was recast in 1753 by John Pass and John Stow. Research shows that John Pass was originally Giovanni Pace, a Maltese craftsman from Cospicua (Bormla), trained in Malta’s long tradition of bell-casting.
His name is still inscribed on the bell that rang as the Declaration of Independence was read aloud in 1776.
For American visitors, this is one of the most extraordinary connections of all:
a Maltese hand helped shape the sound of American liberty itself.
4. Malta Was America’s Mediterranean Lifeline in the Barbary Wars
In the early 1800s, the United States fought two major conflicts against North African corsair states in what became known as the Barbary Wars.
Because America was thousands of miles away, the U.S. Navy depended heavily on Malta as a logistical base. American ships anchored in Maltese harbors for repairs, supplies, intelligence, and medical care.
One of the most famous U.S. naval vessels associated with Malta’s Grand Harbour is the USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides. This three-masted, wooden-hulled heavy frigate was commissioned as part of the six original frigates that formed the first official United States Navy, authorised under the Naval Act of 1794.
Launched in 1797, Constitution is widely recognised as the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat, a living symbol of early American naval power and its long maritime connection with the Mediterranean — Malta included.
Legendary naval figures like Stephen Decatur operated from Malta, and American frigates repeatedly used the island as a staging ground against piracy and ransom-taking.
Malta was, quite literally, America’s unsinkable base in the Mediterranean during its first overseas wars and Maltese saliors also served on the famous USS Constitution
5. USS Constitution and American Sailors in Malta
The famed USS Constitution — “Old Ironsides” — was a regular visitor to Malta during the early 19th century.
American records show that over two dozen sailors of Maltese origin served aboard U.S. Navy ships, including the Constitution itself. A memorial plaque today in Upper Barrakka Gardens commemorates this shared naval heritage and the USS Constitution.
For American history enthusiasts, Malta offers rare, tangible links to the early U.S. Navy — in the very harbors where those sailors once walked.
It was in this same harbour during 1943, where General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Italian Marshal Pietro Badoglio signed an armistice, that took the Italian army on board the British ship HMS Nelson in Malta’s Grand Harbour which now brings us to World War 2
6. Malta and America in World War II: The SS Ohio and Roosevelt
During World War II, Malta was one of the most heavily bombed places on Earth. Its survival and British control depended on a handful of desperate supply convoys — the most famous being Operation Pedestal in August 1942.
At the heart of it was the American tanker SS Ohio, which limped into Malta’s Grand Harbour carrying vital fuel. Its arrival saved the island and turned the tide of the Mediterranean war during which Malta played a crucial offensive part
In recognition of Malta’s courage, Franklin D. Roosevelt later visited Malta in 1943 and issued a citation praising the island as
“one tiny bright flame in the darkness — a beacon of hope.”
That speech is still engraved on the walls of the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta and the jeep Roosevelt rode can be found in Fort St. Elmo – The National War Museum
The US Army was crucial to saving Malta and also Malta served as a crucial base for planning Operation Husky – The Invasion of Sicily where General Eisenhower himself was present inside the Lascaris War Rooms.
7. Malta Hosted the Meeting That Ended the Cold War
Malta’s role in American history didn’t end with WWII.
In 1989, George H. W. Bush met Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Maltese waters, in a summit widely regarded as marking the end of the Cold War.
Once again, Malta served as neutral ground where world-changing decisions were made — quietly, decisively, and far from the spotlight.
Final Thoughts for American Visitors
Malta may be small — smaller than San Francisco — but its role in American history is enormous.
These stories are not widely known — and they are rarely explained properly.
That’s where Malta Themed Tours stands apart. Founded by Maltese cultural guide Giacomo Muscat, MTT specializes in deep-dive historical experiences for travellers who want to understand why Malta matters, not just what it looks like.
From independence to global conflict, from liberty bells to Cold War diplomacy, Malta has repeatedly stood beside the United States at critical moments.
If you’re an American traveller looking for unique things to do in Malta, especially experiences rooted in freedom, maritime history, and global impact, this island will surprise you.
And if you want those stories told properly, Malta Themed Tours is where that journey begins.
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