Nikola Tesla was the father of the electric age. Despite having drop-kicked humanity into a second industrial revolution, up until recently he's been an unsung hero in history books. If you don't know who Tesla is, go read this. 
 
 
 
 Tesla's final laboratory is located in the sleepy town of Shoreham, New York. It's known as Wardenclyffe and it's where Tesla attempted to build a tower that would provide free wireless energy to the entire earth. Unfortunately, Tesla lost his funding before the project was completed and in 1917 the Wardenclyffe tower was demolished. Subsequently, the land was sold to a film and paper manufacturer. 
 
 
 
 However, the land, laboratory, and foundation beneath the tower are still there and very recently went up for sale. And right now a non-profit is trying to buy the property and turn it into a Nikola Tesla Museum. The property is listed at $1.6 million, and this non-profit has received a matching grant from New York State of up to $850k. This means that if we can raise $850k, New York State will match us for that same amount -- putting the total raised at $1.7 million. 
 
 
 
 There is currently another offer on the table from someone who wants to purchase the property potentially tear it down or turn it into a retail establishment. There is no Tesla museum in the United States, despite Tesla's extraordinary accomplishments. If we can outbid this other person and buy the land it will permanently be protected as a historic site and eventually converted into a Nikola Tesla Science Center. 
 
 The folks behind this project are a 501(c) non-profit organization and they've spent the past 15 years trying to find a way to save this property. This IndieGoGo account is linked directly to their bank and all the funds will go directly to them. 
 
 Even if we raise the full amount and end up with $1.7 million, this isn't enough to build an actual museum / science center. But it will effectively put the property into the right hands so it can eventually be renovated into something fitting for one of the greatest inventors of our time. 
 
 Internet, this is where you come in: HELP ME BUILD A GODDAMN TESLA MUSEUM. 
 
 
 
 More details about the campaign can be found over here. 
 
 The Indiegogo campaign is linked directly to the bank account of Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, formerly known as Friends of Science East, Inc. It is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization registered with the State of New York. 
 
 
 
 *Wardenclyffe photo via DamnInteresting.com 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Jesus-Crowdfunded-Christ. 
 
 
 
 In 9 days, we managed to raise over 1 million dollars to go towards buying back Tesla's old laboratory, and with the $850,000 matching grant from NY state this puts us at 1.85 million bucks. At its peak, the campaign was raising $27,000 per hour, crashing Indiegogo, and probably setting some kind of land speed record in awesomeness. Indiegogo put together this infographic showing some interesting data points behind the campaign. 
 
 So what happens next? 
 
 Even though we've already hit our goal, I plan on letting the campaign run the full 45 days. Every extra penny we earn will go toward restoring the property, building exhibits, and turning this land into something worthy of Tesla's awesomeness. The original goal of $850k was enough money to bid on the property, but it's going to take a lot more to turn it into an actual museum. 
 
 The non-profit behind this endeavor is beginning the process of working with the realtor to make a bid on the property. I'll post any major updates here, or you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter. 
 
 We've added some new perks to the campaign, including more t-shirts, hats, and posters signed by Tesla's last remaining relative. 
 
 I know I've said this before, but to everyone who donated: THANK YOU. 
 
 THANK YOU SO GODDAMN MUCH. WE ARE GOING TO BUILD A GODDAMN TESLA MUSEUM. 
 
 Exciting, yes? 
 
 Yes. 
 
 Hugs and goddamns, 
 
 -The Oatmeal
– At first glance, it looks like any other run-down brick building. Its windows are boarded up, it's covered in vines, and a barbed-wire fence warns against trespassing. "It looks lost and neglected," says retired librarian Jane Alcorn. But the building is actually the last lab of one of history's greatest inventors: Nikola Tesla. Alcorn's been trying to turn it into a Tesla museum for 18 years, but couldn't get the funds to buy it. That changed this month, NPR reports, all thanks to a web comic. When another buyer emerged for the site, Alcorn put out a plea for help online, which made its way to Matthew Inman of "The Oatmeal," who had once written this comic praising Tesla. Inman set up an IndieGoGo campaign, which, he writes, "probably set some kind of land speed record in awesomeness." The campaign has now raised more than $1 million, enough to buy the property. "It's almost like an untapped underground of Tesla fanatics," Alcorn says. "I think it's absolutely outrageous and wonderful."