Nikola Tesla Statue – Palo Alto, California - Atlas Obscura

Nikola Tesla Statue

This small monument to the great inventor contains a time capsule and a Wi-Fi hotspot. 

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Monuments to Nikola Tesla, a pioneer in electricity and wireless information, abound throughout the world. This one in the heart of Silicon Valley houses a time capsule to be opened in 2043 on the 100th anniversary of the inventor’s death.

But what makes it special is that it also—appropriately—serves as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Visitors can sit nearby and surf the web to their hearts’ content by connecting to the “Tesla Statue” wireless network.

Creating Palo Alto’s ode to the great inventor was a community effort. Artist Terry Guyer created the statue, which was backed by 722 people on Kickstarter. After the statue was successfully financed, it was unveiled on December 7, 2013. A plaque on its base explains both the Kickstarter campaign and the Wi-Fi network.

Tesla once envisioned a world in which the power of electricity for the entire planet would be transmitted wirelessly. This statue is a homage to his forward way of thinking and his high levels of ingenuity. Palo Alto also happens to be the home to the electric car company, Tesla.

Know Before You Go

You can walk by the statue at any time.

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January 23, 2019

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