The Jersey Shore's beloved six-story, 90-ton historical landmark, Lucy the Elephant, is set to celebrate her 143rd birthday this Saturday (July 20) with a day full of festivities. The event, organized by the Save Lucy Committee, will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and include water slides, mini-golf, Skee-Ball, an obstacle course, and more. Guided tours of Lucy's interior will also be available.
Lucy the Elephant was built in 1881 by a real estate developer as a gimmick to attract potential buyers for land he was selling south of Atlantic City. Visitors arrived by a train that stopped right at Lucy and were guided up 130 steps inside Lucy’s left leg to the riding carriage, or howdah, on her back. There, buyers had a 360-degree view of the land for sale.
However, by the 1960s, Lucy had fallen into such disrepair she was set to be demolished. The Margate Civic Association, which later became the Save Lucy Committee, moved the elephant about 100 yards to a city-owned parcel by the beach and embarked on an ambitious restoration project. Lucy reopened to the public again in 1974 and two years later was designated as a National Historic Landmark.
"At nearly 143 years old, Lucy has never looked better or been more popular,” said Rich Helfant, the executive director and CEO of the Save Lucy Committee to the New Jersey Business and Industry Association. This year, Lucy was named America's best roadside attraction by U.S. Today, making her the number one roadside attraction in the nation.
The birthday celebration is not just about fun and games. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and maintaining historical landmarks. The Save Lucy Committee, a nonprofit organization, has undertaken numerous restoration and maintenance projects on the elephant’s interior and exterior over the decades, including a 15-month long, $2.1 million overhaul completed in 2022 that resurfaced and replaced her metal skin with nickel-copper alloy that is more resistant to corrosion in marine environments.