Lucy the Elephant: A Folly of Fortune and Folklore
In 1881, Philadelphia entrepreneur James Lafferty built more than a building—he conjured a spectacle. Rising from the sands of what was then South Atlantic City, Lucy the Elephant stood six stories tall, her wooden frame shaped like a pachyderm and her purpose rooted in persuasion. She was the centerpiece of the Elephant Bazaar, designed to lure land buyers with whimsy and wonder.
But Lucy became more than a sales pitch. As trains rolled in beside her and beachgoers gathered beneath her belly, she transformed into a coastal icon—a creature of myth, memory, and Margate pride. Locals whispered tales of secret meetings in her belly, lovers who carved initials into her legs, and children who believed she could walk at night.
Lucy the Elephant, 9200 Atlantic Ave.,
609-823-6473. Lucy is a National Historic
Landmark. She is the only 65-foot-high elephant in
the world. www.lucytheelephant.org
