Lucy At the Beach

Lucy At the Beach

Elephant Ahoy!

Lucy's Statistics

Lucy The Elephant stands in a feeding position, trunk down. Access to the interior is gained through spiral stairways in the hind legs, one being for the entrance and the other the exit. Entrance stairs lead to a reception room, which is 18 by 18 feet. Other rooms are off this main one. There are 22 windows.

In the construction of this monster, made of wood and metal, it is said that a million pieces of timber and 8,560 ribs or arches, 200 kegs of nails, and four tons of bolts and bars were used. It required 12,000 square feet of tin to cover the structure.

The body is 38 feet long and 80 feet in circumference; the head is 16 feet long and 48 feet in circumference. Lucy's neck is six feet long and 48 feet in circumference; legs are 22 feet long and 10 feet in diameter.

The ears are 17 feet long and 10 feet wide. It is estimated that each weighs 2,000 pounds.

Lucy's tusks are 22 feet long; tail 26 feet and eyes 18 inches in diameter. The latter are made of glass.

"Lucy The Margate Elephant"

Legend has it that's its first sighting was by a young seaman on his first voyage. The young man had the early evening watch as his ship made it up the coast on its way to New York harbor. After first reporting "All's well" he suddenly yelled "Elephant!!? The captain thinking the seaman had gone berserk rushed to the deck. Lifting his long glass to the shoreline he also exclaimed: "Elephant!", wiped off his glass and after a second look confirmed the fact that there was a giant beast standing among the dunes and eel grass of lower Absecon Island. The captain's report at anchoring in New York harbor brought a score of news people and the curious southward into New Jersey to investigate, thus starting Lucy's history as a tourist attraction.

For the real history and touring information click on:

Lucy the Margate Elephant

Lucy the Margate Elephant was declared a National Historic Landmark 1976 due to the fact it is only surviving example of "zoomorphic architecture".

So when you are in Atlantic City don't forget to "Stop and Smell the Burgers" with Lucy.

Dirrections from the Atlantic City Expressway - Exit 7 S to Garden State Parkway Exit 36. Follow signs to Margate. Routes 30 or 40/322 to Atlantic City and then south on Atlantic Avenue to Decatur Avenue in Margate.

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