Born in 1856 in Smiljan (modern-day Croatia), Nikola Tesla emerged as one of the most influential inventors and visionaries of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A Serbian-American engineer, Tesla's youthful curiosity about electricity became a pioneering force behind some of today's most critical electrical infrastructure. After emigrating to the United States in 1884, Tesla briefly worked under Thomas Edison before making his own mark in the world of science.​

His signature achievement? Championing alternating current (AC) for electric power transmission—a direct challenge to Edison’s direct current (DC) system. The "War of the Currents" became a pivotal chapter in science, business, and public understanding, with Tesla's AC ultimately becoming the global standard for long-distance electricity distribution.​

But Tesla's genius didn't stop with electricity. He registered over 700 patents and explored radical fields including wireless communication, robotics, radar, X-rays, and renewable energy. Many of his ambitious dreams—like global wireless energy and early radio—were only widely appreciated decades after his time.​

Alternating Current (AC) Power
Tesla’s polyphase AC system—motors, transformers, and transmission—revolutionized how we generate and use electricity, making it possible to efficiently send power over hundreds of miles. This innovation is the foundation of modern global power grids and industrial society.​

The Tesla Coil
Invented in 1891, the Tesla Coil enabled achievements in radio, television, wireless power, and neon/fluorescent lighting. It’s still used for education, science shows, and some broadcast technologies today.​

Hydroelectric Power at Niagara Falls
Partnering with George Westinghouse, Tesla realized the world’s first great hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls, proving AC’s value and helping electrify entire cities.​

Radio, Remote Control, and Beyond
Tesla developed and demonstrated the world’s first remote-controlled boat in 1898. He experimented with radio systems and was among the leaders in early wireless communications and radar concepts.​

Other Contributions

Tesla’s brilliance was matched by his eccentricity. He believed electricity could be harnessed to provide free, wireless power worldwide, and he dreamed of planetary communication and transmission. Many considered his later claims excessive, but today, wireless charging, global telecommunications, and even renewable energy echo Tesla’s futuristic vision.​

Despite his profound influence, Tesla died alone and in relative poverty in New York in 1943. For decades, he was overshadowed by business rivals and died without much recognition. Today, his genius is celebrated—statues, museums, scientific awards, and even an electric car company bear his name.

It’s 1888. The world is debating the best way to electrify its cities. Thomas Edison’s powerful business interests promote the DC system, while Tesla and Westinghouse advocate for AC—cheaper, more efficient, and able to transmit power farther. Imagine you’re a city planner in Chicago about to choose a power system for the next century.

Would you…

Historically, most cities adopted AC, sparking electrification worldwide. What would you have chosen, knowing what we do now?

Does the world shape its innovators—or do rare visionaries reshape the world?
Tesla’s life suggests both: his era needed electricity, but only a mind as eclectic as his saw radical new possibilities. Many of his contemporaries dismissed him, but future generations now live amid his inventions, wonder at his predictions, and aspire to his boldness.

Today, in every light switched on, in every city fueled by hydropower, and in the dreams of wireless energy, Tesla’s presence endures.