Fact check
“The exhibit speculated that Franklin may have used enslaved people in his electrical research.”
Reasoning
The claim is directly corroborated by three excerpts from a ProPublica report describing the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History exhibit. Each excerpt notes that the exhibit described Franklin’s ownership of enslaved people and explicitly said the exhibit "speculated that Franklin may have used enslaved people in his electrical research" or similar wording.
On confidence: Multiple excerpts from the same ProPublica article directly state that the Smithsonian exhibit speculated Franklin may have used enslaved people in his electrical experiments.
Important context
The evidence comes from a single news source (ProPublica) reporting on the exhibit’s content. The exhibit itself is described as having closed in 2025 but its online description remains available. The speculation is presented as the exhibit’s interpretation, not as established historical fact.
Evidence
Supporting (3)
- 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
official and, after finding “ideological capture,” plans to install anti-woke warning signs outside the history museum. Is This History? One exhibit speculated that Ben Franklin may have shocked enslaved people in electric experiments.…
- 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
All evidence originates from the same article, limiting source diversity. The claim concerns what the exhibit said, not whether the historical speculation is accurate, so verification is limited to the exhibit’s content.
- 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