Lucy the Elephant, a 65-feet tall National Historic Landmark in New Jersey, sustained wind damage to its 14-foot tail in 2009.
Workers on Tuesday began removing tin sheathing and cedar planks to assess the damage.
Save Lucy Committee director Richard Helfant told The Press of Atlantic City they'll know whether the whole tail needs to be rebuilt or parts can be salvaged once they look inside.
Lucy was built by a real estate developer and has stood as a Jersey shore landmark in Margate since 1881.
Officials have been waiting for an insurance company to approve repairs since winds uprooted a tent that struck the elephant's butt.
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Information from: The Press of Atlantic City, http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com
