Pittsburgh International Airport added to its collection of statues Thursday with its first female representative.
A statue of trailblazing journalist Nellie Bly will stand next to statues of former Steeler Franco Harris and President George Washington near the escalators in the airside terminal.
Bly was an Armstrong County native who traveled around the world in 72 days, a record in 1889. She was also an investigative journalist and a war correspondent, who exposed abusive conditions inside a New York insane asylum.
"She didn't win any awards, although she made a lot of big changes, positive changes in our history for this country," said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. "We're so proud that she's one of us, being a Pittsburgher."
The statues of Harris and Washington have grown to be popular airport attractions over the last 15 years.
Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis remembers seeing the statutes during her first visit to Pittsburgh.
"And I thought, 'were there any women who have made a difference to this region?' And I kept asking."
The statue was unveiled on Bly's 158th birthday. The event was initially supposed to take place in early 2020, but was postponed by the pandemic.