Two of New Jersey’s standout art destinations just got national recognition. Rivers Wall Art, a provider of premium fine art, surveyed more than 3,000 art lovers to identify the 126 Coolest Art Installations in the U.S. and two of our favorite spots landed on the list.
Lucy the Elephant, located in Margate, is ranked No. 38.
Lucy – who is technically a male – stands six stories high as both a sculpture and a building, weighing 90 tons! Built in 1881 to attract real estate buyers to Margate, Lucy has renewed itself as a top attraction thanks to many renovations over the years.
This historical landmark – which is one of America’s best roadside attractions, according to readers of USA Today – is open daily for inside tours, but people love taking pictures outside. The gift shop recently moved across the street and sells lots of elephant-themed souvenirs.
Grounds for Sculpture, located in Hamilton Twp., came in at No. 49. This 42-acre sculpture park has some indoor exhibits, but the true beauty lies in its outdoor exhibits that range from small and intimate to gigantic and impressive. There are permanent displays, plus special artwork created by different artists throughout the year: the Slow Motion installation is on view through September. There’s a huge emphasis on nature, too, since you walk throughout the park and around the lake to see all the sights – including the resident peacocks.
GFS offers family programs, such as creating art projects, storytelling, putting together jigsaw puzzles, slime classes for toddlers, sculpture classes for tots, and Family Open Studio Days.
There’s also Rat’s Restaurant for an elevated sit-down meal, or the appropriately named Van Gogh Cafe with more grab-and-go service.
The Coolest Art Installations in New Jersey, according to Rivers Wall Art:
38. Lucy the Elephant – Margate
49. Grounds For Sculpture – Hamilton Twp.
The Coolest Art Installations in the U.S., according to Rivers Art:
1. Kakaʻako Street Art, Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaii
2. Coral Castle, Homestead, Florida
3. Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, Washington
4. Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau Wooden Carvings, Big Island, Hawaii
5. Beale Street Brass Notes Walk of Fame, Memphis, Tennessee
6. Music Box Village, New Orleans, Louisiana
7. Wild Blueberry Land, Columbia Falls, Maine
8. Cloud Chamber for the Trees and Sky, Raleigh, North Carolina
9. The Whale Bone Arch, Barrow (Utqiaġvik), Alaska
10. Sun Tunnels, Great Basin Desert, Utah
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Read More:
Lucy the Elephant is the No. 1 Roadside Attraction in America
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