Drunkard, Madame Moose, Sweet Lips, Taster, Tippler, Venus, and Vulcan. Would you believe these were some of the names of George Washington’s dogs? It’s true! When it came to pooches, George Washington had a sense of humor – and a tender side, too. He kept many breeds including French hounds, Greyhounds, Dalmatians, Newfoundlands, Briards, and various types of spaniels, terriers, and toys. Washington is even credited by the American Kennel Club with being one of the people who helped develop the breed known as the American Foxhound. The breed resulted from a mixture of different hounds imported from England and France, with local American stock. Even today, dogs are welcome to visit Mount Vernon! Check out the guidelines for bringing your pup here: bit.ly/4gNSV1U

This week in 1776, after the defeat on Long Island, George Washington accomplished one of the greatest escapes of the Revolutionary War, quietly evacuating the Continental Army across the East River under cover of darkness. But the crisis was far from over. With enlistments expiring and soldiers leaving in large numbers, Washington urged his men to “conquer or die,” warning that “the fate of unborn millions” rested on the courage of the Continental Army. #ThisWeekinHistory