Lucy the Elephant Beach View

A Roadside Icon Since 1881

Lucy the Elephant is a six-story architectural marvel built in 1881 as a real-estate promotion, making her one of the oldest surviving examples of novelty architecture in the United States. Her cavernous body once housed a tavern, a hotel room, and even a summer cottage before becoming a cherished National Historic Landmark.

A View Through Lucy's Eye

This webcam looks out through one of Lucy's signature eye windows, the same portholes that gave 19th-century visitors their first glimpse of the shore. The circular frame captures beachgoers, colorful umbrellas, and the wooden boardwalk stretching below her howdah.

Margate City's Jersey Shore Beach

Beyond Lucy's silhouette lies the wide Margate City beach, part of the barrier island shared with Atlantic City and Ventnor. The Atlantic Ocean horizon and dune-lined boardwalk make this stretch of the Jersey Shore a favorite for swimmers, sunbathers, and long walks.

A Beloved Family Attraction

Saved from demolition by a dedicated preservation effort in the 1970s, Lucy now welcomes visitors for guided tours up her spiral staircase. Her quirky charm and unmistakable silhouette make her one of the most photographed landmarks on the entire East Coast.