A Serpentine Sculpture Inspired by Benjamin Franklin's 'Join, or Die' Call for Unity Is Taking Shape—Segment by Segment—in Philadelphia
Created by John Collins, the 46-foot-long granite artwork inspired by an 18th-century political cartoon is slated to be unveiled on Independence Mall sometime this fall
A monumental sculpture paying homage to Benjamin Franklin’s 1754 “Join, or Die” political cartoon is being crafted in Philadelphia. Artist John Collins is constructing a 46-foot-long granite artwork, which will be unveiled on Independence Mall within the National Park Service-managed Independence National Historical Park later this fall.
The interactive monument will be positioned on the ground at the Liberty Bell Center Block, near the site where a 900-pound time capsule was recently buried to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary.
Collins explains to the Philadelphia Inquirer that the project aims to celebrate the first political cartoon in the United States, predating the nation’s founding by four decades. “Interpreting that into a large sculptural work that still has a playful element to it, that the mall is really lacking in, would be a great addition,” he remarks.
The Independence Historical Trust, the park’s philanthropic partner, has largely financed the $3.9 million project through contributions from the state of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia city, private foundations, legacy groups, and individual donors. Presently, the organization is focusing on raising the remaining $600,000 required for installation.
Jonathan Burton, the trust’s director of development, tells the Inquirer that the sculpture will establish a new civic destination in historic Philadelphia, inviting residents and visitors to interact with one of America’s enduring symbols. “It will strengthen Philadelphia’s reputation as a city where history is not merely preserved but experienced, inspiring fresh dialogues about the values that continue to shape our nation,” Burton states.
Franklin originally published the “Join, or Die” cartoon in his Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754, at the beginning of the French and Indian War. Depicted as a snake divided into eight segments, each labeled with a colony’s initials, the image urged the colonies to unite against a common foe. Franklin penned the accompanying editorial, criticizing French forces who violated treaties and disregarded the colonists’ well-being.
The cartoon resonated with readers, gaining widespread attention across colonial newspapers as the Albany Congress convened. Franklin likely did not carve the woodcut himself; it may have drawn from earlier French or English sources. Regardless, “Join, or Die” became a powerful emblem of unity during the American Revolution, reappearing in 1765 against the Stamp Act and rallying colonists in their fight against British rule.
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