Vanderbilt Centennial Exhibition "Garden City's Motor Racing History" at Garden City Public Library

The Garden City Toll Lodge in its original location.

A Vanderbilt Centennial Exhibition "Garden City's Motor Racing History" will be displayed in the Garden City Public Library's gallery and showcases from October 1 - October 28, 2008 located at 60 Seventh St., Garden City, NY. View photos and other Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup Race memorabilia. A newly released book "The Long Island Motor Parkway" by authors Howard Criplick and Al Velocci will be featured with images from the Garden City Archives.

Exhibits are FREE and open to the public during regular library hours. For hours and directions phone: 742-8405. The library is located at 60 Seventh St., Garden City, NY. Funding for gallery and showcase exhibits is provided by The Friends of the Garden City Public Library. Installation and removal dates are subject to change.

2008 represents the centennial of two landmarks in American motoring history and both concerned Garden City: the opening of the Long Island Motor Parkway and the famous 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race. The Long Island Motor Parkway was the first limited access toll road in America, as well as the first concrete highway in America. It ran from Flushing, Queens to Ronkonkoma in Suffolk County (45 miles). The Vanderbilt Cup Race was the most famous American auto race series which ran from 1904-1910 in the dirt streets of Nassau County adjacent to Garden City. The Garden City Hotel was race headquarters of Long Island driver George Robertson winning in 1908.

The Toll Lodge on its way to its present Seventh Street location.

The Vanderbilt Motor Parkway entrance. The old Garden City Hotel.