Nellie Bly was an intrepid New York-based female reporter who blazed a trail for women, and is arguably one of the inventors of "investigative journalism."

Nellie Bly Around the World in 72 Days is an illustrated lecture with magic lantern slides recounting her 1889-90 around-the-world journey, setting out to beat the 80 days of the fictional Phileas Fogg from the popular Jules Verne novel. Her dispatches were featured in Joseph Pulitzer's New York World.

Presented with 150 original 19th century glass magic lantern slides with views of New York, London, Port Said, Aden, Colombo, Hong Kong, Yokohama, San Francisco, Chicago, railroads, steamships, etcetera. Nellie Bly's dramatic account of her race to beat the 80 day record contains many picturesque descriptions of a bygone world, and is an engaging and witty refutation to the skepticism as to whether a woman could make such an intrepid solo journey.

Nellie Bly Around the World in 72 Days is presented with real glass slides shown using an 1890s stereopticon magic lantern projector, manufactured by McIntosh Co. of Chicago. Live sound effects and incidental music accompany this illustrated lecture.