First U.S. Display: Cannon and Jewish Cemetery Headstone From Island Where the American Cause First Won International Recognition

PHILADELPHIA (March 10, 2026) – The American Revolution was fought on battlefields and debated in Philadelphia, but it was also shaped at sea – where supplies moved through busy ports and cannon fire carried political signals.

One vivid piece of that maritime story will arrive in Philadelphia this spring: a 250+ year old cannon found on the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius and now on loan to the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History (The Weitzman) for The First Salute, its landmark America 250 exhibition opening April 23, 2026.

To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, The First Salute is an untold, high-stakes, true story sparked by two key moments on the high seas that helped tip the scales of the American Revolution. Set against the backdrop of the tiny Caribbean island of St. Eustatius, this riveting tale explores how religious liberty, Jewish trade merchants, and the cruelty toward the Jewish community by a debt-ridden British admiral converged at a pivotal time in world history, and impacted the trajectory of the Revolutionary War. Read more.

“It’s a tale of American independence not taught in schools.”
– The Philadelphia Inquirer

On November 16, 1776, the first international recognition of the United States took place when the Dutch governor of St. Eustatius – an island with a significant population of Jewish families – returned a cannon fire salute to an American Navy ship entering the island’s harbor flying the Grand Union Flag and carrying the Declaration of Independence. This “First Salute” is an often-forgotten moment in American history, but it is remembered with pride on St. Eustatius.

FUN FACT: Over the last 250 years, many of the island’s cannons ended up underwater in its harbor – today, scuba divers in St. Eustatius can see coral-covered cannons during their dive.

Curator Dr. Josh Perelman and Raimie Richardson, who oversees St. Eustatius’s historical collections, identified this antique cannon during a research and discovery visit. Weighing approximately 3,000 lbs, it was cast in Europe, in the late 17th or early 18th century, and shipped to St. Eustatius. While it is unknown whether this particular cannon was fired during the First Salute, historical archaeologists with experience on St. Eustatius have determined that it was on the island in 1776. The cannon was shipped to the East Coast by boat and will be taken to the exhibition’s fabricator, which is building a custom mount for it, and then to The Weitzman.

“The Weitzman is lucky to bring this artifact, as well as Hannah Mears’ headstone, to Philadelphia for The First Salute exhibition,” said curator Dr. Josh Perelman. “These loans let us introduce the public to historic objects that have never before been displayed in the United States. Being on St. Eustatius and working with Raimie Richardson and colleagues there immersed me in the island’s living history – and helped us bring its stories into the gallery in a tangible way.”

Newly Secured Artifacts

The 1776 cannon joins newly secured artifacts that illuminate life – Jewish life in particular – in the Caribbean and beyond during the Revolutionary era, including:

• The headstone of Hannah Mears from St. Eustatius’s Jewish cemetery – identified during Perelman’s research trip; connected to the exhibition through her husband, Samson Mears, an agent for prominent Jewish merchants (including Philadelphia’s Gratz family).
• Archaeological dig items from Honen Dalim (the island’s synagogue)
• Letter from Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, Richard Henry Lee, William Hooper, and John Witherspoon to Silas Deane, October 23, 1776, commissioning captain of the Andrew Doria to sail to St. Eustatius with the Declaration of Independence (period reproduction)
• 1776 Declaration of Independence: First Newport Printing by Solomon Southwick
• 1782 Drinking tankard in the shape of Admiral George Rodney’s head; gift from the estate of Philadelphia collectors Bennett and Judie Weinstock;  as a British hero, Rodney’s image was reproduced in various ways
• Previously announced artifacts here.

“Rodney’s antisemitic greed was likely his undoing. He spent months systematically harvesting wealth from Eustatius, which drew his attention away from the military objective of blocking trade routes to America.” – WHYY

This 4,500-square-foot-exhibition will mark the first in the Weitzman’s new special exhibition space on its second floor. This opening will mark a milestone in the Museum’s strategic vision to reimagine its core exhibition and special exhibition schedule.

The First Salute is made possible with Financial Assistance provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Honorable Josh Shapiro, Governor; support from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative which propelled this exhibition’s development; The First Salute has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage; The First Salute has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. This exhibition is supported by Dutch Culture USA, a program of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United States. Additional funding has been provided by the David Berg Foundation, William Penn Foundation, Maimonides Fund, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker & the City of Philadelphia, America250PA, Betsy and Philip M. Darivoff, and other generous individuals.

The First Salute will be open from April 23, 2026 to April 2027. A press preview will be held on April 22, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.

TheWeitzman.org/FirstSalute

PRESS PHOTOS

Exhibition Photos; Credit lines enclosed

Museum images; Credit lines enclosed

 

ABOUT THE WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
Established in 1976, and situated on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience. The Weitzman presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America. Standing as a joyful bulwark against antisemitism, bigotry, and hate, The Weitzman serves to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire. www.theweitzman.org 

 

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