Which famous newspaper publisher raised funds for the Statue of Liberty's pedestal?

Joseph Pulitzer raised funds for the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. The publisher used his newspaper, the New York World, to launch a public donation campaign in 1885.

The statue itself was a gift from the people of France, but the United States was responsible for providing and financing its pedestal. Fundraising stalled because many wealthy Americans were reluctant to contribute, leaving the project at risk of remaining unfinished.

Pulitzer appealed directly to ordinary readers. The World published the names of donors and emphasized that even small contributions mattered. More than 120,000 people eventually donated, many giving less than a dollar. The campaign raised enough money to complete the pedestal, which was designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt.

A common mix-up is assuming Pulitzer funded the entire statue. France paid for the statue and its shipment, while American donations paid for the pedestal. The completed monument was dedicated on October 28, 1886, on what was then called Bedloe’s Island.