History Bites | Cornelius Vanderbilt & the New York Central Railroad

Cornelius Vanderbilt, nicknamed “the Commodore,” was an interesting personality. His investments in the rapidly growing railroad industry in the 1800s led to an empire. Join financial historian John E. Herzog to dive into the story of Vanderbilt and learn more about the New York Central Railroad, which serves as the foundation of today’s local Metro-North and Amtrak lines.

Free with Museum admission. Snacks and refreshments provided.

About the Speaker

In 1959, John E. Herzog joined his father’s New York stock investment firm and later expanded the company to become Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc. Having risen to the role of Chairman and CEO, Herzog founded the Museum of American Finance in New York City in 1987. After the stock market crashed that year, Herzog, saw the opportunity to establish a museum to enhance public understanding of finance and economic history. A current resident of Southport, CT, Herzog served on the Fairfield Museum’s Board from 2010 to 2020. In 2022, Herzog generously donated a large collection of financial materials to the Museum’s archives with the goal of encouraging visitors to learn more about the fascinating history of Fairfield and America’s financial growth.