The Vanderbilts
The Family that Built a Transportation Empire
The Vanderbilts were one of the oldest and best-known families in America. Jan Aertsen van der Bilt emigrated from Holland around 1650. Although his descendants prospered as farmers on Staten Island, New York, they lived modestly; it was only during the lifetime of Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877), known as the “Commodore,” that the family name became synonymous with extraordinary wealth.
Related Posts
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Apr 12
2025
Checkmate Magazine: Days of Thunder- Long Island’s Vanderbilt Cup Races
Checkmate Magazine's feature story in its 2018 fourth issue highlighted Long Island's Vanderbilt Cup Races.
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Mar 22
2025
William K. Vanderbilt II inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America with the assistance of VanderbiltCupRaces.com
On March 11, 2025, William K. Vanderbilt II was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona Beach, Florida. VanderbiltCupRaces.com was honored to play a role in the ceremony.
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Dec 28
2024
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America to induct William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. to its Class of 2025
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) announced that Louis Unser and William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. are the Historic Inductees in the Hall's 37th Induction class.
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Dec 03
2024
Providence Journal: “Vanderbilt and friends competed on Middletown track at the dawn of auto racing”
George Kennedy wrote this 2014 article on William K. Vanderbilt Jr. in the Providence Journal.
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Nov 02
2024
Kleiner’s Korner: A 1934 New York Times Interview with Willie K.
A retrospective interview with Willie K. concerning the first Vanderbilt Cup Race was conducted by a New York Times reporter and published on October 7, 1934, 30 years following the running of the race. It is the only known interview that Willie K. gave concerning the Vanderbilt Cup Races.
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Jul 23
2024
Mystery Friday Foto #29 Solved; Willie K. in his Mercedes
Did you identify William K. Vanderbilt Jr. in his Mercedes?
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Apr 13
2024
Rare Officials’ Armbands from the 1905 and 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races
Here are more Vanderbilia purchased last week at Jerry Lettieri's Automobilia Auction.
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Mar 26
2024
Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; William K. Vanderbilt Jr. with Family and Friends on a Caribbean Cruise
Did you identify Willie K. with family and friends in this photo?
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Feb 16
2024
Video of the Week: William K. Vanderbilt Jr.‘s Summer Estate: Eagle’s Nest - Centerport, NY
Beth Frank has posted this 2019 walk around Willie K's Eagle Nest residence in Centerport.
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Jan 30
2024
Kleiner’s Korner: A Tale of Intrigue Involving The Motor Parkway
Previous posts have detailed how literature and the entertainment world have incorporated The Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Races into story lines. Here is one more example by a widely read author of today.
