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Friday, March 09, 2007

THE ELEPHANT BUILDING

LUCY, THE ELEPHANT BUILDING
Two Miles South of Atlantic City

Lucy foot Lucy front view Lucy beach view

Made of wood and tin sheeting, Lucy towers over neighboring structures and enjoys a commanding view of the beach.

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A national historic site as well as a unique example of the eccentric architecture of the late Victorian age, Lucy the Elephant is arguably the most beloved tourist attraction in the Atlantic City area. Located in the neighboring town of Margate, the 119-year-old elephant-shaped building has come to the brink of demoliton several times, only to be saved by outpourings of public protest and grass-roots fund-raising fervor.



INSIDE LUCY THE ELEPHANT
The Pachyderm You Can Walk Through

Lucy leg door Lucy interior

With legs as wide as strairwells and a body cavity as broad as a living room, Lucy has previously served as a restaurant, hotel, bar, business office and beach cottage.

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Lucy the Elephant is open daily for tours led by knowledgeable docents. Entry is gained through the ten-foot-diameter rear legs. Each has a door (above, left) and a set of spiral stairs that climb into the main body cavity. Both stairwells enter beyond the balustrade visible at the far, rump end of the main room (above, right--this interior photo was taken from inside Lucy's head). The two center doors open into another set of stairwells that climb into the patio-sized howdah on Lucy's back for a panoramic view of sky and surf.


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1 comment:

gate valves said...

this is probably the oddest structure ived ever seen. :P nice blog!