Riverton in Burlington County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Riverton's Bicycle Track
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 2, 2022
1. Riverton's Bicycle Track Marker
Inscription.
Riverton's Bicycle Track. . Dedicated July 4, 1894, the Riverton Athletic Association bicycle track stood adjacent to South Broad Street between Thomas and Lippincott Avenues. On Saturday, June 8, 1895, the riders on the 150 mile Tri-State Relay Race entered the track at its finish, cheered on by thousands of spectators who had followed the drama surrounding the race in dozens of newspaper articles. The contest began earlier that morning from the steps of the New York Times Building amid extensive news coverage. Riverton's quarter-mile track, a premier racing venue of the day, featured 5 1/2-foot-high banked turns, a clubhouse, bleachers, grandstand seating for 3,000 and arc lights to illuminate night races. After the close of the 1896 season, the Riverton Athletic Association could no longer sustain the track, and Charles M. Biddle later developed the land into lots for homes. This marker is made possible with a grant from the NJ Historic Trust through the Discover NJ History History License Plate Heritage Tourism Grant Program.
Dedicated July 4, 1894, the Riverton Athletic Association bicycle track stood adjacent to South Broad Street between Thomas and Lippincott Avenues. On Saturday, June 8, 1895, the riders on the 150 mile Tri-State Relay Race entered the track at its finish, cheered on by thousands of spectators who had followed the drama surrounding the race in dozens of newspaper articles. The contest began earlier that morning from the steps of the New York Times Building amid extensive news coverage. Riverton's quarter-mile track, a premier racing venue of the day, featured 5 1/2-foot-high banked turns, a clubhouse, bleachers, grandstand seating for 3,000 and arc lights to illuminate night races. After the close of the 1896 season, the Riverton Athletic Association could no longer sustain the track, and Charles M. Biddle later developed the land into lots for homes. This marker is made possible with a grant from the NJ Historic Trust through the Discover NJ History History License Plate Heritage Tourism Grant Program.
Erected 2014 by The Historical Society of Riverton.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is June 8, 1895.
Location. 40° 0.523′ N, 75° 0.792′
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W. Marker is in Riverton, New Jersey, in Burlington County. Marker is at the intersection of South Broad Street and Lippincott Avenue, on the left when traveling west on South Broad Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 303 Broad St, Riverton NJ 08077, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 2, 2022
2. Riverton's Bicycle Track Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 112 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 3, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
