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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Jan 04
2020
Helck Family Collection: Original Transcript- Willie K. and the “Race to Death”
Among the treasures of the Helck Family Collection is an original typewritten profile of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. dated November 26, 1969. This section of the article describes Vanderbilt's participation in the 1903 Paris-Madrid Race which became known as the "Race of Death".
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Jan 01
2020
The Top Thirty 2019 Posts on VanderbiltCupRaces.com
In celebration of the New Year and VanderbiltCupRaces.com and being honored by the Society of Automotive Historians, here is a list of my top 30 posts of 2019.
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Dec 30
2019
Mystery Foto #52 Solved: Willie K. at the Ormond Hotel during the 1904 Ormond-Daytona Beach Races
In the final Mystery Foto of the decade, did you find Willie K.?
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Dec 03
2019
Helck Family Collection: Long Island Motor Parkway Inc. $1,000 Four Per Cent Gold Bond
In 1906 William K. Vanderbilt Jr. and his business associates raised $2 million ($57 million today) in stock to build the Motor Parkway. Eventually, more than $6 million ($171 million today) was raised including $1 million in 4% interest gold bonds.
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Sep 04
2019
A Motor Parkway Director’s Second Horse Statue Returns to Roslyn High School
A second historic horse statue built for Clarence Mackay, an original director of the Motor Parkway and friend of Willie K., has been restored and being installed at Roslyn High School.
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Aug 12
2019
Mystery Foto #32 Solved: Willie K. Going for an Early Ride in his 1899 Locomobile Runabout
The Audrain Automobile Museum challenged you to solve this weekend's Mystery Foto.
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Jul 29
2019
Mystery Foto #30 Solved: Willie K’s “Red Devil” at the 1901 Newport Automobile Races
This weekend's Mystery Foto documented an historic race.
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Jul 08
2019
Mystery Foto #27 Solved: Officials of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race and Reginald Vanderbilt
This weekend's holiday Mystery Foto featured four Vanderbilt Cup Race officials.
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May 18
2019
Update: The Hunt for the “Godfather” Train Painting is Over
Two weeks ago, a search began for a lost "Peter Helck" train painting that was seen in the famous "Five Families" scene in the Godfather film. Jerry Jordak and Greg Anderson have solved this mystery.
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Apr 24
2019
VanderbiltCupRaces.com Profile: Harry Payne Whitney
In a new series, profiles and images of important people associated with the Vanderbilt Cup Races, Long Island Motor Parkway and/or Long Island automotive history are featured. First in the series is a profile of Harry Payne Whitney.
Never figured out why a gatehouse was erected in this area.