Pulitzer Fountain, Grand Army Plaza

Pulitzer Fountain in Grand Army Plaza, 5th Avenue and 58th Street, seen from 59th Street, in 1936. To the right is the Bergdorf Goodman department store, that opened in 1928. W.P.A. photo from Federal Writers’ Project.

This ornamental fountain was built with funds left by Joseph Pulitzer (1947-1911), former owner of the New York World (he also helped institute the Pulitzer Prize). Thomas Hastings (1860-1929) was the architect. It has five basins in a stepped pattern support at their highest point a sixth, shell-form basin holding a standing female figure. Two rams-head horns of plenty flank the third basin. It was often referred as the Fountain of Abundance. Today it is officially the Pulitzer Fountain.

The allegorical female figure is believed to represent Pomona, the Roman goddess of abundance, bearing a basket laden with fruits of the earth. This bronze statue was designed by Karl Bitter (1867-1915), completed by Isidore Konti (1862-1938) and installed in 1916.

The original limestone fountain was first restored in 1948. The 12-foot central basin was replaced with a granite basin in 1970, but later it developed a crack and had to be replaced with a second granite basin in 1996.