Jefferson Hotel Gators

Picking up a trinket or two as a souvenir while on vacation is a common practice. What's less common, however, is buying an alligator while on a trip—and then intentionally leaving it behind on an overnight stop. That, however, is the unique lore of The Jefferson Hotel. 

The Jefferson Hotel was opened in 1895 by Lewis Ginter. It has since appeared on many illustrious lists, including The National Registry of Historic Places and Hotels of America. The Jefferson has catered to a plethora of world leaders, including no less than 13 U.S. Presidents. It is also entertained a number of celebrities from Charlie Chaplin to James Brown.

The hotel's formation coincided with the rise of automotive travel for the purposes of vacationing. Conveniently situated in Richmond, Virginia, halfway between New York and Florida, The Jefferson Hotel allowed for an overnight stay on the long journey home. Many guests who had visited the Sunshine State and purchased an alligator had begun to question their decision by the time they reached The Jefferson, often leaving their scaly acquisitions behind. The bewildered staff would regularly deposit these creatures into the marble pools of the hotel's Palm Court.

There are fabled stories of misguided crocs wandering into various rooms and giving unsuspecting visitors a fearsome fright. Once the gators had amassed to an uncontrollable size, they were donated to various zoos. The last of these creatures nicknamed 'Old Pompey' remained at the hotel until 1948.

Today, one can find fanciful references to these creatures throughout the hotel.