July 2, 1843 started out like any other sultry day in Charleston, South Carolina, until an alligator fell with from the clouds along with the heavy rain.

Or so the newspaper reports claimed. 

According to local reports, the 2 foot long reptile was dumped onto a street in downtown Charleston, far from it’s usual swampy home. It was likely scooped up by a waterspout outside the city and unceremoniously dumped into the city when the spout ran out of energy. 

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
From USPS’s 2006 Nature of America : Southern Florida Wetlands set
Artist: John D. Dawson 
Designer: Ethel Kessler

The most plausible explanation for this strange incident involves a waterspout. Waterspouts are tornado-like columns of wind that form over bodies of water and can lift objects, including small animals, into the air. It is believed that a waterspout formed over a nearby river, picked up the alligator, and carried it over Charleston before the winds weakened, causing the animal to fall.
July 2nd: An Alligator Fell From The Charleston Skies – Historic Moments Today

The citizens scooped up the dazed and likely very confused gator, made sure it was healthy and, likely released it back to the wild. 

Speaking of oddities, don’t forget to check out last year’s SOD (Stamp of the Day) – Nostradamus’ death.