July 15, 2015
Save Lucy Committee /lucytheelephant.org
The 65-foot, six-story elephant constructed in 1881 will play host to a 134th birthday bash on July 18, 2015
If you're heading to the Jersey Shore this weekend and looking for a way to keep the kids occupied, there's a very special birthday party scheduled in Margate at a can't-miss National Historic Landmark.
Lucy the Elephant, standing 65-feet tall, will turn 134 years old on Saturday, July 18, with a celebration including a festive slate of shows, activities and tasty treats.
The legend of Lucy dates back to 1881 when Philadelphia-based land speculator, engineer and inventor James V. Lafferty Jr. commissioned architect William Free to construct the jumbo, six-story wooden elephant as a way to attract prospective real estate buyers to Margate. By 1969, Lucy's crumbling condition prompted the formation of the Save Lucy Committee, which helped secure the necessary repairs and led a lobbying effort for the U.S. government to place the structure on the National Park Registry of Historic Landmarks in 1976.
At Saturday's birthday party, visitors will find a rock climbing wall, a moon bounce, a giant water slide, carnival games, and a mechanical elephant ride to go along with a tarot card reader and a stilt walker to add entertainment. Food options will include roasted corn on the cob, Philly pretzels, cotton candy, birthday cake, hot dogs, popcorn, and snow cones.
Free parking will be available for those who wish to attend and a shuttle service will run every 15 minutes from the Margate Municipal Building.
