The Floral Park Historical Society will host the unveiling of a historic marker on Saturday, April 26, to commemorate the first and only Vanderbilt Cup Race that traversed the Floral Park community, in 1904. It was one of the six Vanderbilt Cup international auto races held on Long Island between 1904 and 1910 and the first in the United States. This will be the first historic marker on Long Island to spotlight the Vanderbilt Cup Races. In their heyday the auto races drew tens of thousands of spectators.The unveiling festivities are Saturday, April 26, from noon to 2:30 p.m.; the program will be at 12:30 p.m. at the triangle mini-park at the intersection of Emerson Ave. and Jericho Tpke. The intersection and adjacent street will be closed for the event.
Howard Kroplick, Town of North Hempstead historian and Vanderbilt Cup Race authority is bringing his Vanderbilt Cup race car (1909) – an Alco known as the “Black Beast” that won two Vanderbilt Cup Races. It will be parked on Emerson near the triangle for everyone to see.
This is a rain or shine event. If it rains the program will be at Reliance Firehouse on Holland Ave. just north of Jericho Tpke. The “Black Beast will be on display in the firehouse.
For information, visit floralparkhistorical.org or call Ann Corbett at 516-775-6849.
