A 46-foot granite sculpture inspired by Benjamin Franklin's famous “Join, or Die” cartoon is moving forward on Independence Mall, with organizers still working to close a $700,000 gap before construction can wrap. The piece, designed by artist John Collins, will be built from eight granite segments arranged near the Liberty Bell Center and is meant to bring an interactive, tactile landmark to a stretch of the national park that has long lacked engaging public art.
Plans for the sculpture are moving forward, according to 6abc Philadelphia, which reports that the Independence Historical Trust has raised about $3 million so far through donations from the city, foundations and private philanthropists. Organizers hope to secure an additional $700,000 to complete the project, per the station's report. The Smithsonian Magazine adds further detail on the timeline, noting the sculpture is expected to sit at the corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets on the Liberty Bell Center Block, with a public unveiling targeted for fall 2026.
A Colonial Cartoon Reimagined in Stone
The sculpture draws directly from Franklin's 1754 “Join, or Die” woodcut, which he published in the Pennsylvania Gazette to press for colonial unity, according to the same station's report. The image is widely regarded as America's first newspaper political cartoon, and per the National Constitution Center, Franklin created it to rally support ahead of the Albany Congress during the French and Indian War. In the original print, the snake was severed into eight segments representing colonial regions, labeled S.C., N.C., V., M., P., N.J., N.Y., and N.E., with Georgia left out and the New England colonies folded into the snake's head, according to the Library of Congress.
Those eight segments now translate into the eight granite pieces that will make up the physical sculpture, representing the colonies Franklin urged to unite. The fragmented form is meant to symbolize unity through connection, echoing the original cartoon's message even as it takes on a monumental, walkable scale on the mall.
Trust Leader Frames Project as Part of America's Origin Story
Jonathan Burton, director of development for the Independence Historical Trust, said the project helps complete the story of America's birthplace in Independence Hall. “It's not only about unity,” Burton said of the sculpture, framing it as also being about the beginning of the country itself, according to 6abc. Trust officials say the installation will offer another educational opportunity for visitors to the national park, deepening understanding of the nation's origins for the millions who pass through each year.
That foot traffic is substantial. Independence National Historical Park recorded 1,926,580 recreation visits in 2025, according to National Park Service data, and visitor spending there generates roughly $178 million in direct economic benefit for surrounding Philadelphia communities each year, supporting about 2,400 local jobs, per the same agency's figures. The sculpture site itself sits near where park officials recently buried a 900-pound time capsule marking America's 250th birthday, according to Smithsonian Magazine, adding another physical marker to the mall's semiquincentennial makeover.
Part of a Larger Old City Investment Wave
The “Join, or Die” sculpture is a centerpiece of the Independence Historical Trust's “INDEPENDENCE 2026” fundraising campaign, which aims to enhance public spaces and historic assets across the park, according to the trust. It arrives alongside other major capital projects reshaping Old City ahead of the anniversary, including the $43 million rehabilitation that reopened the historic First Bank of the United States to the public in July, which Hoodline previously reported was backed by federal funds and private philanthropy.
For now, those hoping to see the granite snake take shape can track its progress as fundraising continues toward that remaining $700,000. Contributions toward the sculpture are being accepted through inht.org/donate, and organizers are working against the fall 2026 target as the broader park upgrades continue around it.
