In 1869, Ida Lewis appeared on the cover of which national publication?

• A. Harper's Weekly
• B. The Atlantic
• C. The New Yorker
• D. The Saturday Evening Post

Answer: (A)

Ida Lewis became a celebrated symbol of public courage as a lighthouse keeper, and in the late 1860s illustrated magazines often used covers to highlight national heroes. Harper’s Weekly was a leading venue for such portraits, using its cover to spotlight notable figures and stories of bravery. In 1869, Ida Lewis’s recognition reached that spotlight, with her image gracing the cover, making it the most documented choice for that year. The New Yorker hadn’t existed yet in 1869, so it couldn’t be the publication; the other magazines were active too, but historical records point to Harper’s Weekly as the publication that featured her on the cover that year.