Nellie Bly , the 19th - century journalist renowned for her six - partexposéon Blackwell ’s Island ’s asylum in New York City — which she penetrate by feigning insanity — will soon be honored with a monument on the island itself , now called Roosevelt Island .
Her 1887 investigation , Smithsonian.comreports , uncovered cruel conditions for the distaff " moonstruck " patients , like freezing bath , wildness , and unfrequented confinement in rooms overrun with vermin . Its publication resulted in a serial publication of improvements including increased financing , translator aid for immigrants , conclusion of abusive stave , and more . It also facilitate a national discussion about the stain of mental sickness , specially for charwoman .
All we know about the monument so far is that it ’ll be some kind of statue — perchance a traditional carving , something more advanced or even digital — and twist will take plaza between March and May of next twelvemonth with a budget of about $ 500,000 . The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation ( RIOC ) announced an open call for artists to submit their designs , and by August 2 , it will select five finalists who will then create conceptual proposals for the monument .
The monument ’s accurate location is still up in the air , too . It could be around the Octagon , the only remain component part of the asylum edifice that now forms the entering to a luxury flat complex on the northern one-half of the island , or in Lighthouse Park , a 3.78 - acre space at the island ’s northern tip .
Until the mid-20th century , Roosevelt Island , locate in the East River between Manhattan and Queens , was a rather unsuitable place to visit . Along with the women ’s mental hospital , it housed a prison , a Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiae hospital , a smallpox infirmary , and a workhouse , The New York Timesreports .
The city changed the name of the island ( originally called Blackwell ’s after the family who farmed there for generations ) to Welfare Island in 1921 . In 1935 , it relocate the prison to Rikers Island ( where it remains today ) . And in1971 , the city install a in-between - income residential community of interests on the island , rename it Roosevelt Island , after Franklin Roosevelt .
Though Bly ’s employment in the island ’s mental home may be her most famous , it was far from her only contribution to the worldly concern of news media and industry . She also sailedaround the worldin 72 day , investigated baby trafficking , and hunt her recent husband ’s manufacturing company . you could read more about herhere .
“ She ’s one of our local heroes , ” RIOC Chief Executive Susan Rosenthal toldThe Cityabout the choice to honour Bly . “ The combination of who she was , the importance of investigatory journalism and the fact that it happened here just made it perfect for the island . ”
[ h / tSmithsonian.com ]
