VisitMargate to meet Lucy, a local landmark in the shape of a circus elephant. Learnits history during a guided tour in summer.
WhenJames Lafferty wanted to attract people to south Atlantic City in the late 19thcentury, he decided he would build a six-story hotel with a remarkableappearance, and Lucy the Elephant was the result. Lucy has stood in Margate formore than 130 years and has become a symbol of the Jersey coast.
Oncemade from almost a million individual pieces of wood, Lucy the Elephant wasconsidered a feat of architecture at the time. The now predominantly steelstructure has weathered many a storm and famously survived Hurricane Sandy,which came ashore at this very spot in 2012.
Lucyhas had a colourful life, being used as a hotel, a bar and a restaurant. The barwas closed during the prohibition years and bootleggers used it for signalingto smuggle alcohol ashore.
Every half hourduring summer you can join a guided tour. Learn about the architecture of thestructure and climb the spiral staircase inside Lucy’s hind leg to reach thehowdah at the top. From there, enjoy 360-degree views across Margate and theJersey Shore. See Atlantic City in the distance on a clear day. The howdah ischild-friendly and the stairs can be climbed by people of varying heights andfitness.
The Josephine HarronPark, where Lucy stands, is a stunning coastal park, which is fenced off toensure that your kids are safe while you relax. Enjoy a family picnic at thetables provided here.
Lucy the Elephant islocated in Margate, about 6 miles (20 kilometres) south of Atlantic City, andcan be reached by car or bus from downtown. There is free parking for visitorshowever, a 30-minute limit is enforced in the small car park.
Lucythe Elephant is open daily throughout the summer months, but hours vary duringthe off-season, so check the website before visiting.
