Lucy the Elephant Added to NJ Village Collection

The Mayor of New Jersey’s Historic Village has decreed another Jersey icon be added to the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection recently in a bold move to expand the only set of New Jersey collectible icons.

Produced in conjunction with the Mr. Local History Project in conjunction with the Cat’s Meow Village, a small company in Ohio who for decades have produced wooden painted collectibles known around the world. You might know them when you travel to gift shops and see local keepsakes with the little black cat, known as Casper.

Lucy The Elephant – Margate, New Jersey

Lucy the Elephant, originally named “Elephant Bazaar”, was built in 1881 by James V. Lafferty of Philadelphia in an effort to sell real estate and attract tourists. Lucy stands six stories tall and weighs 90 tons. She was more than an object of awe; Lucy was a functioning building serving as a real estate office, tavern, and single family residence. 

By the 1960’s, Lucy was on the verge of collapse. Local residents saved her from the wrecking ball by raising money for Lucy’s restoration and move 2 blocks southwest. Today she serves as a National Historic Landmark and has been dubbed America’s Oldest Roadside Attraction.

See the Entire Historic Keepsake Collection