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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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.
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Mar 05 2019
A Historical Fiction Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt: American Duchess by Karen Harper
Bestselling author Karen Harper has written a historical fiction novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt called American Duchess.
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Jan 11 2019
Roslyn News: A Day with the Vanderbilts
Roslyn News visited "Long Island's famed Gold Coast mansion and museum."
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Nov 19 2018
Mystery Foto #46 Solved: Mid-Week Pictorial Announces the Death of William K. Vanderbilt in 1920
Steve Lucas challenged you to identify this illustration published in Mid-Week Pictorial, a magazine once owned by The New York Times.
