Cartoon

In Philadelphia, a new public artwork inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s famous “Join, or Die” woodcut is being installed on Independence Mall. Designed by artist John Collins, the impressive 46-foot-long granite sculpture is slated for its official public unveiling later this autumn on the Liberty Bell Center Block, right in the historic heart of the city. From 18th-Century Print to 21st-Century Granite The original artwork that inspired this modern installation carries significant historical weight. On May 9, 1754, Franklin published the illustration in his newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, as the French and Indian War was breaking out. Created as a woodcut print, the imagery depicted a serpent severed into eight distinct segments, directly above the stark warning “JOIN, or DIE.” A Collection of American Colonies Each section of the snake was carved with initials symbolizing the American colonies of the era. N.E. (New England, grouped as one block) N.Y. (New York) N.J. (New Jersey) P. (Pennsylvania) M. (Maryland) V. (Virginia) N.C. (North Carolina) S.C. (South Carolina) At the moment he published the print, Franklin was preparing for the Albany Congress. This critical meeting brought colonial delegates together to strategize against common external threats and to negotiate a vital alliance treaty with the Iroquois Confederacy. Strength Lies in Solidarity. The cartoon served as an urgent call for collective action, warning that a fragmented collection of colonies would inevitably perish individually. “The confidence of the French in this undertaking seems well-grounded on the present disunited state of the British Colonies, and the extreme difficulty of bringing so many different governments and assemblies to agree in any speedy and effectual measures for our common defence and security,” A Lasting Legacy of American Unity   By translating this historic woodcut into a physical, segmented granite monument, the National Park Service and artist John Collins aim to give visitors an interactive connection to early American history. Set against the backdrop of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, the 46-foot sculpture preserves Franklin’s message: strength lies in solidarity.