A smalltown girl with little education but possessing blazing ambition and talent, Nellie Bly rose from obscurity to worldwide fame by the age of 23. Following her groundbreaking muckraking journalism endeavor — which exposed the horrors of a mental asylum by going undercover as an inmate — Bly continued to harness the power of sensational journalism by embarking on a journey around the world, setting out in 1899 to beat the fictional record of Jules Verne’s novel, “Around the World in 80 Days.”

Shown with an 1890s magic lantern, “Nellie Bly” is an illustrated presentation with 19th-century glass lantern slides which trace the exotic locations of her astounding journey. Award-winning magic lanternists Dawn Elliott and Joel Schlemowitz will transport their audience across the globe from the portico of Staatsburgh’s mansion on a beautiful, late-summer evening. Refreshments and Nellie Bly trivia with prizes included in the ticket price; perfect for ages 14 and up!

Reservations required: https://NellieBly72.Eventbrite.com

This program is presented by theFriends of Mills at Staatsburgh, with the generous assistance of The Pomeroy Fund for History