Joseph Pulitzer

April 10, 1847 - October 29, 1911

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2014

1. Joseph Pulitzer Marker

Inscription. Founder of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, publisher of the New York World, donor of the School of Journalism, Columbia University, New York, and the Pulitzer Prizes for the Advancement of American Journalism and Letters.

“Passionate devotee of the cause of liberty - liberty of action, of opinion, of government.”

Placed April 10, 1947 by
Sigma Delta Chi
National Professional Journalistic Fraternity
at the site where Joseph Pulitzer
bought the St. Louis Dispatch
December 9, 1878 at public auction

Erected 1947 by Sigma Delta Chi, National Professional Journalistic Fraternity.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Communications. A significant historical date for this entry is April 10, 1804.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 38° 37.535′ N, 90° 11.33′ W. Marker was in St. Louis, Missouri. It was in Downtown. It could be reached from North 4th Street near Market Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 11 N 4th St, Saint Louis MO 63102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The Old Courthouse (here, next to this marker); Dred and Harriet Scott

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(a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Sold on the Steps of Justice (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Western Reach of the Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); International Fur Exchange (within shouting distance of this marker); Abraham Lincoln Slept Here (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); KMOX (about 300 feet away); La Rue Missouri (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

Other markers no longer nearby. Sold on the Steps of Justice (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Western Reach of the Revolution (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. This marker is located in front of the Old Courthouse on North 4th Street, between Market and Chestnut Streets.

Also see . . .
1. Pulitzer biography - The Pulitzer Prizes. Elegantly dressed, wearing
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2014

2. Joseph Pulitzer Marker
The marker is embedded in the bricks in front of the steps.
a handsome, reddish-brown beard and pince-nez glasses, he mixed easily with the social elite of St. Louis, enjoying dancing at fancy parties and horseback riding in the park. This lifestyle was abandoned abruptly when he came into the ownership of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (Submitted on November 12, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

2. YouTube video about marker being stolen. (Submitted on February 19, 2026.)

The Old Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2014

3. The Old Courthouse

Joseph Pulitzer image. Click for full size.

4. Joseph Pulitzer

Photographed by Jason Voigt, March 9, 2026

5. Joseph Pulitzer Marker

Marker has been reportedly stolen. The National Park Service is working to investigate and to eventually replace the plaque.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,335 times since then and 47 times this year. Last updated on October 13, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 12, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 5. submitted on March 9, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.