The first U.S. camels were imported into Texas in 1856. It is not know if the scholars of that time knew that the oldest remains of camels have been found in North America. Camels are said to have originated in North America 45 million years ago. In the mid 1850′s the importation of camels to the United States was an experiment for the U.S. Army.

The Army needed a system of transportation for its goods that otherwise did not exist at the time. Camels were determined to be very effective for the job of transporting heavy loads and go greater distances than horses or mules. Camel express freight lines were created in many areas of the Southwest.

Camels have several characteristics which suited it to this job. Although we have long been told that the camels humps contain water, this is not the case. The humps contain fat which can be converted to water when necessary. The camel can go many days and great distances without water.

The camel has large eyes protected by two interlocking lashes, which are set under an overhanging brow, all of which protects it from intense desert heat. The camel can completely close its nostrils to blowing desert sand. Both one humped and two humped camels were used. The Dromedary proved to be most effective in this work as it could carry more than 500 pounds for 40 miles.