Wardenclyffe, the Last Existing Laboratory of Science Visionary Nikola Tesla, is added to the US National Historic Register
SHOREHAM, N.Y. (PRWEB) August 08, 2018 -- On July 27, 2018, the National Park Service approved the historic Wardenclyffe property in Shoreham, New York, for inclusion on the National Historic Register (NHR). Wardenclyffe was submitted for listing on the NHR by the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe (TSCW), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and renovating the 16-acre site, which contains a brick laboratory and tower base built by inventor and humanitarian Nikola Tesla. Wardenclyffe’s application for inclusion on the State and National Historic Registers received a record number of endorsements: over 9,500 within the week just prior to review by the NY State Division of Historic Preservation, who voted unanimously to recommend Wardenclyffe for nomination. Wardenclyffe was approved and placed on the State Historic Register on June 24, 2018; and approval for listing on the NHR was recently granted by the National Park Service on July 27, 2018.
Listing on the NHR is based on Wardenclyffe’s historic importance as the only remaining laboratory of Nikola Tesla, whose discoveries led to significant advancements in science and technology. Tesla’s invention for alternating current (A/C) electricity is the basis of the modern electric grid, and he holds almost 300 patents for concepts such as the induction motor, x-ray, fluorescent lighting, radio, and wireless technology. This last invention was the focus of Tesla’s work at Wardenclyffe from 1901 to 1906 and culminated in the construction of a 187-foot wireless transmitting tower. Both the brick laboratory and tower were built by renowned architect Stanford White and associates, a connection that enhances the site’s historic value. Although the tower was dismantled in 1917, the large octagonal tower base remains, as does the original brick lab building.
According to TSCW’s Executive Director Marc Alessi, “Listing on the National Historic Register not only helps preserve Nikola Tesla’s last remaining laboratory, but it allows us to move forward with renovations and plans to develop Wardenclyffe into a world class science and innovation center. NHR listing also opens doors for funding, as many grants require official historic status.”
TSCW financial support has come from numerous sources, including a global following that generated over a million dollars in a 2012 crowdfunding campaign that still holds a record for donations, second only to a Hurricane Sandy campaign. Substantial contributions made by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and technology leaders from around the world sustain TSCW’s efforts, with additional funding being sought for required renovations.
Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe is a non-profit 501(c) organization dedicated to preserving Nikola Tesla’s last laboratory and developing it into a science center focused on education, research and entrepreneurship. Contact TSCW at (631) 886-2632 or info(at)teslasciencecenter(dot)org, or http://www.teslasciencecenter.org.
Mark Alessi, Executive Director, Tesla Science Center, http://teslasciencecenter.com, +1 (631) 886-2632, [email protected]
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