Floral Park in Nassau County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Vanderbilt Cup Race

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 3, 2019

1. Vanderbilt Cup Race Marker

Inscription. The 1st major international auto race in the USA run on a public road. It ran thru Floral Park, Oct. 8, 1904.

Erected by Floral Park Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 40° 43.78′ N, 73° 41.976′ W. Marker is in Floral Park, New York, in Nassau County. Marker is at the intersection of Jericho Turnpike and Emerson Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Jericho Turnpike. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Floral Park NY 11001, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Padre Pio (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Floral Theatre (about 700 feet away); Brigadier General Count Casimir Pulaski (about 700 feet away); American Legion (approx. ¼ mile away); Floral Park School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Tyson Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); The First Church of Floral Park (approx. half a mile away); Floral Park World War II Memorial (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Floral Park.

Also see . . .
1. 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race (vanderbiltcupraces.com). "The inaugural William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Cup Race in 1904 was the first major international road race in the United States...." (Submitted on September 11, 2019.)

2. Vanderbilt Cup (Wikipedia). "The Vanderbilt Cup was the first major trophy in American auto racing....An international event, it was founded by William Kissam Vanderbilt II

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in 1904 and first held on October 8 on a course set out in Nassau County on Long Island, New York. The announcement that the race was to be held caused considerable controversy in New York, bringing a flood of legal actions in an attempt to stop the race. The politicians soon jumped in, holding public hearings on the issue. Vanderbilt prevailed and the inaugural race was run over a 30.24 miles (48.7 km) course of winding dirt roads through the Nassau County area." (Submitted on September 11, 2019.)

Vanderbilt Cup Race Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 3, 2019

2. Vanderbilt Cup Race Marker - wide view

The marker is in a triancular pocket park formed by the split in Emerson Avenue where it meets Jericho Turnpike.

Vanderbilt Cup Race 1904 Map image. Click for full size.

image courtesy of the Garden City Public Library

3. Vanderbilt Cup Race 1904 Map

The marker site on this map would be on Jericho Turnpike, west of New Hyde Park and just east of the Queens/Nassau County boundary. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 298 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 11, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.