PIT adds Nellie Bly figure to terminal to celebrate 158th birthday

FINDLAY TWP. – As travelers enter the main terminal at the Pittsburgh International Airport, an Armstrong County native will remind them to chase their own adventures as she did centuries ago.

The Heinz History Center and local leaders came together at PIT on Thursday to officially introduce the new figure of Elizabeth Cochran, better known by her pen name of "Nellie Bly." Honoring the influential writer and journalist on what would have been her 158th birthday, the statue will join the ranks of George Washington and Franco Harris in welcoming travelers to the region.

"Now, I don't think Nellie scored any touchdowns, she didn't win any wars, although she made a lot of big changes, positive changes in our history for this country," said Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County chief executive. "We're so proud that, she's one of us. Being a Pittsburgher, did her growing up here and then went on to New York and did some groundbreaking journalism."

Elizabeth Jane Cochran was born in Cochrans Mills in Armstrong County on May 5, 1864. Historically known by the name Nellie Bly, which was based on a popular song at the time, her work as a journalist pioneered the investigative storytelling technique of "immersion journalism." Bly's style focused on her personal journey and experiences, often putting her in the center of the action and highlighting environments people may have never experienced themselves.

Through her work, Bly was able to pave the path for more women to enter the journalism field across the United States and break down the gendered writing barrier. Originally inspired to write a rebuttal to an article describing "what girls are good for," Bly's work inspired many other young female writers to take a pen in hand and share stories with the public.

While she worked for the Pittsburgh Dispatch during her early career, Bly is most commonly remembered for her expose on mental health asylums for the New York World, in which she spent 10 days undercover as a patient to highlight the abuses inside of the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island. The investigative piece was an instrumental part of mental health reforms across the United States.

Another one of Bly's famous stories was her journey around the world in 1889, recreating the fictional journey of Phineas Fogg from "Around the World in 80 Days." Throughout her journey for the New York World article, Bly broke the record for the time necessary to travel the world, fully circling the globe in only 72 days.

"This is a woman who, after reading 'Around the World in 80 Days,' decided that she would recreate the fictional trip and she did it," said Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny Airport Authority. "If you think about all those years ago, as a woman without the right to vote, without the right to apply for a credit card in her own name, and if they'd had them, I'm sure they would have said no, without the right to do a whole lot of things, that would give her agency over her life. She took off and she went around the world with that bag, that coat and that hat."

While the statue hasn't traveled the world, it has officially moved from the Heinz History Center to the airport. Highlighting her Pittsburgh connections and important work in changing history, the figure will be located at the bottom of the first set of escalators that incoming travelers see when arriving at PIT.

Bly was recently also honored by The Women's Press Club of Pittsburgh for her role in breaking the gender barrier in journalism, earning herself an honorary membership with the organization during its 130th anniversary.

"We're so grateful to the Heinz History Center, who helped us celebrate that milestone," said Francesca Dabecco, president of the Women's Press Club of Pittsburgh. "Today, the Women's Press Club carries on the legacy of Nellie's passion for community journalism, we strive to honor all of those who came before us while forging into the future by providing a place for women in news media."

As the figure of Bly joins the other historical characters at the PIT terminal, the Heinz History Center hopes that her presence serves as a beacon for other young people coming into the region to start their own trailblazing journeys.

"I think that Nellie Bly should represent us here at Pittsburgh International Airport, as the world's greatest traveler and a 21-year-old," said Andy Masich, president and CEO of the Heinz History Center. "It doesn't matter how old you are to make history. It so happens that Pittsburgh is attracting young people again, just like it did in 1754 and in 1864, when Nellie was born, and still today."

This story has been corrected to reflect the event celebrated Nellie Bly's 158th birthday.