THE PLACE WHERE NIKOLA TESLA DREAMED THE FUTURE OF THE PLANET

The final testimony of Nikola Tesla’s life in the United States has only recently come to light, thanks to writer Barbara Dadino, the owner of the house on Long Island where one of humanity’s greatest minds lived while pursuing his grand vision — the construction of his laboratory and the famous Wardenclyffe Tower.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

Dadino transformed years of research about Tesla and a lost chapter of Wardenclyffe’s history — the place he moved to from New York driven by an immense dream — into her book Return to Wardenclyffe, recently published in Serbia.

“The story I uncovered about Tesla is truly incredible,” Dadino told Tanjug, noting that for revealing what she describes as a previously untold story, she received the title of “Tesla Ambassador” from Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs — an honor she says she is especially proud of.

A HOUSE THAT WITNESSED HIS HAPPIEST AND HARDEST YEARS

Five years ago, a commemorative plaque was placed on the house, marking the period Tesla lived there — a time Dadino describes as both his happiest and most difficult.

The plaque features words by Tesla’s biographer Marc Seifer, one of the most respected researchers of his work and the author of Wizard, who dedicated half a century to studying Tesla’s achievements.

“Tesla rented this house in 1902. It was his home during the construction of the laboratory and Wardenclyffe Tower, based on one of his most revolutionary ideas — a global wireless system for communication and energy transmission,” Dadino explained.

She added that Tesla enjoyed swimming in the nearby bay and, from a rise in the yard, operating his invention — a remote-controlled boat.

A DISCOVERY THAT SPARKED AN INVESTIGATION

Barbara Dadino and her partner Daniel Byrne only learned that the “father of the electrical age” had lived in the house after purchasing it in 2011.

“The house enchanted us immediately, but only after our second offer was accepted did the previous owners tell us: ‘You know, Nikola Tesla lived here.’ We almost fainted,” she recalled.

The fact was unknown even to local residents, which prompted her in-depth research.

“I went through old newspapers searching for proof. Soon I discovered not only that he lived here, but also what a magnificent man he was — socializing with neighbors, speaking with children, even taking an interest in agriculture,” she said.

A CITY OF THE FUTURE THAT NEVER CAME TO LIFE

According to Dadino, Tesla led a different life in Wardenclyffe than in New York, although he remained fully devoted to his laboratory and tower.

He planned to live there for the rest of his life and to build an entire “Beautiful City – Radio City,” inspired by the urban planning movements of the time. The house was intended to become the center of a global electrical energy system.

Tesla arrived in Wardenclyffe at the height of its development, after the railroad connected New York with eastern Long Island and investor James S. Warden launched the construction of an exclusive resort community.

MORGAN’S SUPPORT AND THE BEGINNING OF A GRAND PROJECT

In 1901, Tesla purchased 200 acres of land and built his laboratory and tower with financial backing from banker J. P. Morgan, who invested $150,000 in the ambitious undertaking.

Tesla initially commuted daily from New York City to oversee construction before permanently moving to Wardenclyffe in 1902.

“He had the privacy he needed, but also the closeness of friends such as Stanford White and Mark Twain. It was one of the happiest periods of his life,” Dadino said.

THE COLLAPSE OF A DREAM

The situation changed after Tesla’s split with Morgan, who withdrew funding — partly because Tesla built the tower twice as tall as originally agreed.

Without financial support, Tesla returned to New York in 1904 in search of new investors.

The tower, which during testing emitted light visible as far as Connecticut, was demolished in 1919 and sold for scrap metal, while the laboratory was later seized.

A VISION THAT OUTLIVED FAILURE

Despite the setback, Tesla never abandoned his dream of transmitting energy and messages wirelessly across the globe.

“He believed that such energy could help humanity — that people would be more educated, well-fed, and that wars would become meaningless,” Dadino emphasized.

During that same period, Tesla further developed ideas about the advancement of humankind through education, health, and peace.

A PLACE OF PILGRIMAGE

Today, the Long Island house has become a place of pilgrimage for admirers of the great scientist.

Visitors come from around the world, including Tesla’s descendants, biographers, and numerous scientists. Organized by the Serbian Consulate General, Tesla’s birthday has even been celebrated there for the first time with guests from several countries.

“People come deeply moved by the fact that he lived here,” Dadino said, adding that the house continues to preserve the memory of the visionary who sought to connect the entire world through energy.