ALEXANDRIA, VA — Thanks to a captivating social media reel by Alexandria History Tours, a delightful piece of local lore is making the rounds again: in December 1787, George Washington bought a camel in Alexandria for the Christmas season — a towering, 1,400-pound, 7-foot-tall showstopper he had delivered directly to Mount Vernon.

Washington recorded the purchase in his ledger: 18 shillings for an animal to be brought to Mount Vernon. That “animal” was a camel, hired as a rare holiday attraction for his guests and family.

At the time, such exotic creatures were seldom seen in Virginia, and Washington — an avid collector of animals — delighted in offering visitors a memorable seasonal surprise.

And here’s the best part: You can still visit a Christmas camel at Mount Vernon today. Ever

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