Lucy the Elephant Margate City

Ever hear about the wave of animal shaped buildings that swept the nation in the 1800s? No? Thats probably because it never happened. But it wasnt for a lack of effort from Victorian speculator James V. Lafferty, who hit upon the idea of driving up interest in beachfront property he owned by constructing Lucy, a building shaped like an elephant. Though zoomorphic architecture failed to take off, Lucy became a popular tourist attraction, her belly serving variously as a restaurant, summer home and speakeasy. Though she fell into disrepair in the 1960s, Lucy was soon saved from the wrecking ball, moved onto public land and designated a National Historic Landmark. For visitors, shes one elephant theyll never forget.