<Tr> <Th> Designated NJRHP </Th> <Td> April 7, 1971 </Td> </Tr> <P> Elephant hotel redirects here . For the National Historic Landmark located in Somers, New York, see Elephant Hotel . </P> <P> Lucy the Elephant is a six - story elephant - shaped example of novelty architecture, constructed of wood and tin sheeting in 1881 by James V. Lafferty in Margate City, New Jersey, two miles (3.2 km) south of Atlantic City . Originally named Elephant Bazaar, Lucy was built to promote real estate sales and attract tourists . Today, Lucy is the oldest surviving roadside tourist attraction in America . </P> <P> In 1881, the U.S. Patent Office granted James V. Lafferty a patent giving him the exclusive right to make, use or sell animal - shaped buildings for a duration of seventeen years . Lafferty funded the design and construction of his first elephant - shaped building at South Atlantic City, now called Margate . He employed Philadelphia architect William Free for the design, and it was constructed at a cost of $25,000 - $38,000 . </P>

Where is lucy the elephant located in new jersey