Lucy the Margate Elephant isn't just a tourist trap sitting along the beach of the New Jersey shore; she's a national historic landmark.
The largest (fake) elephant in the world at 65 feet, Lucy was built in 1881 from a wooden frame and a skin of metal, commissioned by real estate developer James Lafferty as an advertisement for land he was trying to sell. (No, the land was not a habitat for gigantic fake elephants.)
She didn't come cheap. Lafferty spent $38,000 to build her -- even more astounding when you consider that the average salary in the late 1800s was around $350 per year.
Nowadays, a visit to see her comes with a guided tour inside her belly. Climb up the stairs located in the legs and meet your final destination up top on the howdah (seat) on Lucy's back. Once inside, you'll also find a museum and a video telling of her history at the Jersey shore. There's also a gift shop inside. (Of course there is.)
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Tours are every half-hour. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for kids, and free to all members of the U.S. military.
Lucy is located just two miles from Atlantic City at 9200 Atlantic Avenue in Margate, N.J.
Hours are Monday to Saturday 10-8 p.m. and Sunday 11-5 p.m.
