Fact check
“The exhibit claimed that Franklin’s scientific accomplishments were, in part, enabled by slavery.”
Reasoning
The provided evidence contains explicit statements from the Smithsonian exhibit, as reported by ProPublica, that the exhibit declared Franklin's scientific work was partially enabled by enslaved labor. This directly supports the claim.
On confidence: Two excerpts from the same ProPublica article directly quote the exhibit stating that Franklin's scientific accomplishments were enabled by slavery.
Important context
The exhibit, titled “The Electric Dr. Franklin,” was part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and included the specific language cited. The exhibit has since closed, but its content remains documented online.
Evidence
Supporting (2)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceHow the Smithsonian Became Target of Trump’s Culture War — ProPublica
Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History opened an exhibit called “The Electric Dr. Franklin,” describing “Benjamin Franklin’s pioneering contributions to electrical science.” The exhibit explained that, prior to becoming an…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceHow the Smithsonian Became Target of Trump’s Culture War — ProPublica
although he seldom identified who in particular assisted him,” stated the exhibit, which closed in 2025 but can still be found online . “Indentured servants and enslaved people in his household could also have been used, although we may…
Limitations
Evidence is limited to reporting by ProPublica; no additional independent sources are provided to confirm the exhibit's exact wording beyond this article.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 4:18 AM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
How the Smithsonian Became the Latest Front in Trump’s Culture WarProPublica · Alec MacGillis