Once a well-known landmark which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, the hotel was razed in 1992. On December 5, 1896, the Nathan F. Cobb, a wooden schooner built in 1890, ran aground on a sandbar off Ormond. One of Flagler's guests at the Ormond Hotel was his former business partner at the Standard Oil Company, John D. Rockefeller. He arrived in 1914 and after four seasons at the hotel bought an estate called The Casements, that would be Rockefeller's winter home during the latter part of his life. Sold by his heirs in 1939, it was purchased by the city in 1973 and now serves as a cultural center. It is the community's best-known historical structure. Beginning in 1902, some of the first automobile races were held on the compacted sand from Ormond south to Daytona Beach. Pioneers in the industry, including Ransom Olds with his Pirate Racer, and Alexander Winton, tested their inventions. The American Automobile Association brought timing equipment in 1903 and the area acquired the nickname "The Birthplace of Speed." In 1907 Glenn Curtiss set an unofficial world record of 136.36 miles per hour (219.45 km/h), on a 40-horsepower (30 kW) 269 cu in (4,410 cc) Curtiss V-8 motorcycle. Lee Bible, in the record-breaking, but fatal, White Triplex, was less fortunate. Driving on the beach is still permitted on some stretches. The city was renamed Ormond Beach following a referendum held on April 25, 1950. Ormond Beach has four downtown riverfront parks and a beachfront park along with 37 other parks and gardens large and small. The historic shopping district located along Granada Boulevard from A1A to Orchard Street is home to dozens of locally-owned shops and restaurants along with historic and cultural sites. City officials Elected Bill Partington, mayor Dwight Selby, city commissioner, zone 1 Troy Kent, city commissioner, zone 2 Susan Persis, city commissioner, zone 3 Rob Littleton, city commissioner, zone 4 Appointed Joyce Shanahan, city manager Randy Hayes, city attorney Notable people Paul America, actor Adelbert Ames, the last surviving general officer of the Civil War, who died at age 97 in 1933 Lisa Andersen, pro surfer Shirley Chisholm, U.S. Congress member, U.S. presidential candidate David Allan Coe, musician Phil Dalhausser, 2008 Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball Jacob deGrom, MLB pitcher for the Texas Rangers Alan Gustafson, NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief for Hendrick Motorsports Brian Kelley,