Vanderbilt Cup, 1904

Description:

William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. and AAA established America’s first international auto race in 1904. Held annually on Long Island’s public roads, the race was aimed at improving the performance of American automobiles. The trophy, a silver cup made by Tiffany, is inscribed with the winning entries and an image of Vanderbilt in his Mercedes race car. After a spectator fatality in 1906, Vanderbilt constructed the first highway designed for automobiles, the Long Island Motor Parkway, where races resumed in 1908. After more fatalities, the race relocated to Georgia, Wisconsin, and California. Vanderbilt donated the cup to the Smithsonian in 1934.

Date Made: 1904

Maker: Tiffany & Co.

Location: Currently on loan

See more items in: Work and Industry: Transportation, Road, Sports & Leisure, Transportation, Road Transportation

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: TR.310894Accession Number: 131820Catalog Number: 310894

Object Name: trophy

Measurements: overall: 23 in x 20 in; 58.42 cm x 50.8 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-13f8-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_687374

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