Dear Reader:

As a history teacher for over three decades I thought I knew everything about our first President-George Washington. That is until I came across this article on the purchase of a camel that President Washington made to entertain his guests.

Evidence of this strange purchase comes from Washington’s personal (financial) ledger. I remember reading that his mother couldn’t spell CAT….sadly, as you will soon decipher…George wasn’t too far behind….he definitely spelled it the way it sounded to him.

 “By the man who brot. A Camel from Alexa. For a show. . . .0.18.0.” 

These limited words found in Washington’s expense ledger are the only surviving mention of a camel’s visit to Mount Vernon for Christmas in 1787. However, based on surrounding information, it is possible to gain some insight into the camel’s arrival at Mount Vernon.

*Aladdin the Camel is a frequent guest at Mount Vernon during the holidays. (MVLA)

George Washington had a significant interest in both domestic and rare animals. He often paid to see them on display. Over the years, Washington and various members of his household were able to learn something about the world outside of Virginia from the itinerant entertainers who traveled along the eastern seaboard and would have been drawn to large gatherings of people at events such as fairs. Many of these individuals worked with rarely seen or specially-trained animals. In one instance, Washington recorded paying 10 shillings to see a “Lyoness” in June of 1766. While President Washington saw a “Cugar” in Philadelphia as well as a “Sea Leopard,” a type of sea lion.

There is nothing in the surviving records to indicate precisely how the camel ended up at Mount Vernon for Christmas in 1787. However there is evidence pointing towards who might have had the opportunity to view the animal. According to George Washington’s diaries there was a fairly large crowd gathered that day at Mount Vernon that could have viewed the camel.

Also at the Mansion House Farm were slaves, several of whom might well have previously seen camels with trading caravans in Africa before their enslavement in the Americas. The large number of people at Mount Vernon that Christmas is a possible explanation for the fairly high sum paid by Washington to see the camel, eighteen shillings. (That a large sum of money back thenfor entertainment.)

Since 2008 Mount Vernon has brought back the tradition of the 1787 Christmas camel and named him Aladdin. He is from Berryville, Virginia….but from Thanksgiving to Christmas he resides at Mt. Vernon and poses with guests and tourists…. known to very friendly… He rarely spits or bites.

You can pull him on Facebook and see some of the families who have posed with him in the past. Just pull Aladdin, the Mount Vernon Christmas camel.

Somehow, it makes old George even more special…..to want to entertain his own two grandchildren (by his marriage to Martha)…Eleanor and George….both of whom were raised at Mt. Vernon after  their son (Jackey’s) early death at 26.

Isn’t that the nice thing about history….just when you think you know it all…you learn that you really don’t know as much as you thought you did. We never know a historical figure until we see him as human with all the frailties that go along with the term.

If you think your children or grandchildren would be interested in this story…you can purchase it from the gift shop at Mt. Vernon or on-line. It would make a great Christmas gift to all our future historians.

So until tomorrow…At this Thanksgiving season….let us never judge others because we are seeing only what we choose to see or what in our limited knowledge we are privy to understand….We must remember everyone, all humans, are children of God and we must never forget it.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh