NJShore Guide
🏛️

Lucy the Elephant

Walk through America's oldest roadside attraction! 6-story elephant, National Historic Landmark since 1881, with ocean views from the howdah.

historic site

About Lucy the Elephant

Lucy the Elephant is a six-story elephant-shaped building and one of the oldest surviving roadside attractions in America. Built in 1881 by inventor James V. Lafferty Jr. as a real estate gimmick, she's now a National Historic Landmark and the only elephant you can walk through at the Jersey Shore. Tours take you inside Lucy's belly, up her spiral staircase through exhibits on her 140+ year history, and onto the howdah observation deck with panoramic ocean views where visitors often spot dolphins in summer.

Highlights

✓National Historic Landmark since 1976
✓65 feet tall (6 stories), weighing 90 tons
✓Only surviving elephant building of 3 built by Lafferty
✓Howdah observation deck with 360° ocean views
✓Saved from demolition in 1970 by grassroots campaign
✓$2 million restoration completed in 2022
✓Nearly 1 million pieces of lumber in construction
✓America's oldest surviving roadside attraction

Collections & Exhibits

Victorian-era artifactsOriginal construction photographsHistoric postcards and memorabiliaSave Lucy Committee archivesRenovation documentation

Features

guided toursobservation deckgift shopphoto opportunitieshistoric landmarkocean viewsspiral staircasevictorian architecturebeach adjacentdolphin watching

Visiting Tips

💡 Book tours online during peak summer season - tours fill up quickly
💡 Arrive 10-15 minutes before your tour time to check in at the gift shop
💡 Best photos from across Atlantic Avenue in the morning light
💡 Climb to the howdah for 360-degree ocean views
💡 Check for special events like Sunrise Yoga and Lucy Lights (winter)
💡 Combine with free Margate beach right next door
💡 The spiral staircase has 22 steps - wear comfortable shoes
💡 Sunset tours offer spectacular views from the observation deck
💡 Bring binoculars to spot dolphins from the howdah
💡 The gift shop has unique Lucy souvenirs found nowhere else

Best For

familieshistory buffsphotographersquirky attractionsroadside americanaarchitecture fans

Visitor Info

Admission
General Admission: $10 adult / $6 childChildren under 3 free
Hours
Year-roundWeekdays: 10am - 5pmWeekends: 10am - 5pmExtended summer hours (10am-8pm). Tours run every 30 minutes. Last tour 30 min before close.
Time Needed
30-45 minutes
Address
9200 Atlantic Avenue, Margate City, NJ 08402
Tours
Guided tours available
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