Book Talk: Annie Londonderry's Extraordinary Ride

In 1894, a young mother from Boston set out to circle the world on a bicycle and when she returned she was world famous. Known as Annie Londonderry,her journey was heralded as "the most extraordinary journey ever undertaken by a woman" by The New York World newspaper.

Now, you are invited to share Annie’s improbable and daring ‘round the world journey with Annie’s great-grandnephew, Needham's own Peter Zheutlin, as your guide. Travel through the 1890s, a time of ragtime jazz, women’s liberation, and Wild West outlaws. Join Annie as she fends off bandits in France, dodges bullets on a Chinese battlefield, and trudges across the California desert with a broken down bicycle.

On November 15 at 2 pm, Needham Bikes and the Needham Historical Society will sponsor a presentation based on Peter's book, "Around the World on Two Wheels: Annie Londonderry's Extraordinary Ride." Fully illustrated, Peter's PowerPoint presentation will also include a brief stop in Needham in the 1890s as Needhamites joined the national bicycle craze.

The Needham Historical Society is located directly in front of the Newman School on Central Avenue.

• < Previous Event
• Next Event >

Comment by Tad Staley on November 4, 2009 at 6:47am

Note: the program is free to members of Needham Bikes and Needham Historical Society; $5 for non-members.