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James Vincent de Paul Lafferty, Jr. (1856–1898) was an Irish-American inventor, most famous for his construction of 
Official 'Lucy' website
1856 births 1898 deaths 19th-century American inventors {{US-inventor-stub
Lucy the Elephant
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, approximately five miles (8 km) south of Atlantic City. Origina ...
, the Elephantine Colossus
The Elephantine Colossus (also known as the Colossal Elephant or the Elephant Colossus, or by its function as the Elephant Hotel) was a tourist attraction located on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York City. It was built in the shape of an elepha ...
and The Light of Asia
''The Light of Asia'', or ''The Great Renunciation'' (''Mahâbhinishkramana''), is a book by Sir Edwin Arnold. The first edition of the book was published in London in July 1879.
In the form of a narrative poem, the book endeavours to describ ...
(also known as "Old Dumbo"). Born to Irish parents in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
, he received Patent Number 268503, on December 5, 1882 to protect his original invention, as well as any animal-shaped building.
Broke by 1887, Lafferty was forced to sell Lucy (originally named "Elephant Bazaar"). He died in 1898 and is buried in the cemetery of St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Philadelphia.
See also
*Charles Ribart
Charles François Ribart de Chamoust (''fl.'' 1776–1783 ) was an 18th-century French architect.
Architectural career
In 1758, Ribart planned an addition to the Champs-Élysées in Paris, to be constructed where the Arc de Triomphe now stands. I ...
, French architect who designed a similar elephant-shaped building
*Zoomorphic architecture
Zoomorphic architecture is the practice of using animal forms as the inspirational basis and blueprint for architectural design. "While animal forms have always played a role adding some of the deepest layers of meaning in architecture, it is now ...
External links
Official 'Lucy' website
1856 births 1898 deaths 19th-century American inventors {{US-inventor-stub