Vanderbilt Cup, 1904

Vanderbilt Cup, 1904

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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.
Location
Currently on loan
Object Name
trophy
date made
1904
maker
Tiffany & Co.
Measurements
overall: 23 in x 20 in; 58.42 cm x 50.8 cm
ID Number
TR.310894
accession number
131820
catalog number
310894
Credit Line
Gift of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.
See more items in
Work and Industry: Transportation, Road
Sports & Leisure
Transportation
Road Transportation
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

I live in NW Indiana and in 1909 the first Midwestern Vanderbuilt type race was sponsored by the Chicago Automobile Club. The original two race days were Friday, June 18th and Saturday, June 20th. The trophy was donated by IRA COBE who sponsored the events. The Cobe Cup is in a vault at the Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Louis Chevrolet wan that race. The other race that weekend was for the Indiana Trophy and was won by Joe Matson. We have yet to find the Indiana Trophy. Since the 1976 the local car clubs rerun the 23.1 mile route in collectable cars. I will be driving my 1929 Model A Ford Town Sedan (STOCK) .

Paul Myers

Mon, 2022-03-28 08:54

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