Aladdin is here!
George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate welcomed Aladdin the Christmas camel this week. He'll stay until Jan. 7 at the historic farm.
Why a camel? According to Mount Vernon Estate's historians, in 1787, George Washington paid 18 shillings to bring a camel to Mount Vernon to entertain his guests. The first president had a long-standing interest in rarely-seen animals.
When not at Mount Vernon, Aladdin spends his time on a farm in Berryville, Virginia. Contrary to popular belief, camels are not only desert animals — there are wild herds of camels in Mongolia that regularly live in snowy conditions.
You can see Aladdin free with general admission to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate. Other activities this holiday season at Mount Vernon include Mount Vernon by Candlelight, which kicks off Nov. 26 and continues every weekend through December. Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon is Dec. 17 and 18.
