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 25
2009
Guy Frost’s Favorite Vanderbilt Cup Race Photo
Guy Frost, chairman of the Vanderbilt Centennial Celebrations, has selected this photo as his favorite Vanderbilt Cup Race image. Taken during the 1908 race, referee William K. Vanderbilt Jr. is seen discussing the action with retired driver Joe Tracy. Joe drove in three Vanderbilt Cup Races (1904, 1905…
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Apr 09
2009
Willie K. Sets Land One-Mile Speed Record in 1904
Before helping to organize the Vanderbilt Cup Races, William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. was a pioneer race car driver, competing in Europe and Newport, Rhode Island from 1901 to 1903.
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Feb 22
2009
The Vanderbilt Cup Race Brassards
During every Vanderbilt Cup Race, all officials wore silk brassards (armbands) to allow them on the course. This latest acquistion to my Vanderbilia collection was a brassard worn by two officials.
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Feb 18
2009
Newsday “Vanderbilt Museum gets a donation from a Vanderbilt”
Bill Bleyer of Newsday reported on Tuesday that Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Conner of Mahattan, a cousin of Willie K., has contributed $10,000 to help the "financially troubled institution keep its doors open".
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Jan 11
2009
Efforts to Save the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum
Efforts to save the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum were described in the January 10, 2009 issue of the New York Times
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
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Oct 25
2008
Willie K. Talks!
It is a cold, misty Saturday morning here on Long Island. Very similar to the weather conditions on a Saturday morning 100 years ago on October 24, 1908 when George Robertson became the American driver to win the Vanderbilt Cup Race in an American car.
As a…
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Oct 20
2008
“Over the Seven Seas”: A Film Starring William K. Vanderbilt II
William K. Vanderbilt II (Jr.), his wife Rosamund, his friends Mr. and Mrs. Earle Smith and crew set on a world cruise in 1931 aboard his beautiful 265-foot yacht Alva. They departed Long Island and traveled through the Panama Canal to the Galapagos Islands, the Society Islands, Samoa, Australia, Java,…
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Aug 15
2008
Question of the Week: Can you Identify this Signed Willie K. Photo?
I have a photo signed by William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. taken, I believe, at Daytona Beach, Florida. The caption reads "Official world's record made by W.K.V.Jr. in this Mercedes car. From 1 to 50 miles, the latter distance accomplished in 40 min. 49 4/5 sec. Date Jan. 1904. W.K. Vanderbilt…
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May 20
2008
Vanderbilt Family Website
The excellent Vanderbilt Family Genealogy website vanderbiltfamily.wordpress.com provides an excellent article on this website. This genealogy website is a must for all of us Vanderbilt fanatics.
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Apr 16
2008
Calling All Vanderbilt Cup Race Families
VanderbiltCupRaces.com has heard from several relatives of participants in the Vanderbilt Cup Races including George Robertson, Frank Lee, Al Poole and Harry Grant. If your relative participated in the Vanderbilt Cup Races as a driver or mechanician, leave a post or contact us and I will send you complimentary images…
Know some of us wondering if there’s a relation with Damianos and Mr. Damiano, the lodge keeper and employee of The…