The statue was administered by the United States Lighthouse Board until 1901 and then by the Department of War; since 1933 it has been maintained by the National Park Service.
Založnik New York Worlda Joseph Pulitzer je s kampanjo za donacije, s katero bi dokončal projekt, pritegnil več kot 120.000 vlagateljev, od katerih je večina prispevala manj kot en dolar.