Known as a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, and futurist, Nikola Tesla is often credited as the father of the modern age! His inventions, including the Tesla coil, alternating current (AC) motor, and wireless communication, have revolutionized the way we live today. He also made significant contributions to the development of wireless communication, X-ray technology, and robotics, among many other fields. Tesla was a true polymath whose work helped pave the way for many technological advancements we enjoy today. He is an inventor with over 700 patents!
Tesla’s brilliance and contributions have earned him a place in history as one of the greatest minds of all time. But how did it all begin?
How Nikola Tesla invented the 21st century
Tesla was a curious child fascinated by nature and machines. Growing up, he showed an aptitude for learning and an interest in science and engineering, which would later become his life’s work.
As a young man, he moved to Prague to study at Charles-Ferdinand University, where he continued to explore his interest in electrical engineering.
With little more than the clothes on his back and a letter of introduction to Thomas Edison, in 1884 Tesla arrived in the United States. He hoped to work for Edison, but the two men had vastly different personalities and soon became rivals.
Despite this, he continued to work on his inventions and eventually secured funding from investors to start his own company. One of Tesla’s most significant contributions was the development of the alternating current (AC) motor.
Edison was pushing for the use of direct current (DC) power, but Tesla knew that AC power was more efficient and easier to distribute. In the end, his vision prevailed, and AC power became the standard for electricity transmission around the world.
One of his most outstanding achievements was the establishment of the hydroelectric power station at Niagara Falls in 1896, which harnessed the power of alternating electrical energy utilizing Tesla’s patents. A few years later Tesla demonstrated his revolutionary remote control system for the first time by operating a ship from a distance.
Tesla’s impact on the modern age cannot be overstated. His inventions have shaped the world we live in today and continue to influence the development of technology. His contributions to wireless communication and energy transmission have paved the way for modern telecommunications and power grids.
Tesla’s most important inventions
- Multi-phase currents and rotating magnetic fields (alternating current multi-phase motors and generators based on rotating magnetic fields)
- Alternating current transmission and distribution system for electrical energy
- Tesla’s oscillating transformer (Tesla coil)
- Lighting using high frequency currents
- Wireless transmission system for radio signals and energy
- Teleautomation (remote control of a ship)
- Tesla turbine
- Radio
Tesla’s Serbian Roots
Even though Tesla was born in Croatia, his father, Milutin Tesla, was a Serbian Orthodox priest from the village of Smiljan. His parents left a great impact on him inspiring his interest in electrical engineering and science from a young age. His mother Djuka was an inventor herself, creating household appliances to make their family’s life more comfortable.
Tesla was raised in a Serbian Orthodox household, and he was proud of his heritage and considered himself Serbian. Later, he became an active supporter of Serbian causes, particularly during World War I when he donated funds to support Serbian refugees.
The eternal connection between Nikola Tesla and Belgrade
Tesla came to Belgrade in 1892 to deliver a series of lectures on alternating current and electrical motors, which were groundbreaking at the time.
Upon his arrival, Tesla was received with the utmost respect and dignity by the King of Serbia, Aleksandar Obrenovic. Tesla’s profound contributions to the field of science and technology merited him the Order of St. Sava of the II order, which was bestowed upon him by the royal governors on the behalf of the King. It was the first of many honors that Tesla received for his groundbreaking work in science.
Even though he insisted that no reception, or anything pompous, be held, a grand celebration was organized in his honor during his visit to Belgrade. Notable figures, including the esteemed Serbian poet and physician Jovan Jovanović Zmaj, extended his warm greetings to Tesla, who received them with grace and humility.
Death, New Yorker and the beginning of Nikola Tesla’s legacy
Nikola Tesla died on January 7 in 1943, at the age of 86, in Room 3327 of the New Yorker Hotel in New York City, United States.
His immense contributions earned him the coveted Edison Medal from the American Society of Electrical Engineers in 1917, and in 1926 he was granted an honorary doctorate from the University of Zagreb. Tesla’s impressive achievements did not go unnoticed by European institutions, as evidenced by his receipt of an honorary doctorate from the Polytechnic School in Graz and the University of Paris in 1937.
But Tesla’s legacy extends beyond his inventions. He was a visionary who believed in the power of science to change the world. His ideas about the future of technology, including the use of renewable energy sources, are still relevant today.
The Museum of Nikola Tesla: From the USA to Serbia
After the death of Nikola Tesla, his personal belongings and papers were left in limbo until they found their way to the hands of a young Serbian diplomat, Sava Kosanovic, Tesla’s youngest sister’s son.
It was in January 1943 that the US government ruled Kosanovic should inherit Tesla’s estate. Thanks to his dedication, the estate arrived at the port of Rijeka aboard the ship “Serbia” in September 1951. A year later The Nikola Tesla Museum was established in Belgrade, Serbia.
The museum is dedicated to the life and work of Nikola Tesla and houses a collection of over 160,000 original documents, photographs, and other artifacts. The collection includes Tesla’s personal items as well, such as his cane, eyeglasses, and even his death mask. It is also home to a number of interactive exhibits that showcase Tesla’s inventions and discoveries, allowing visitors to learn more about his life and work.
The urn that contains Tesla’s ashes is also kept at the Museum. It’s a beautiful, bronze-colored sphere around 20 inches in diameter created by sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, a personal friend of Teslas. It has intricate designs and carvings that represent various aspects of his life and work. For example, there are electrical symbols, an image of Tesla’s laboratory, and even a portrait of the inventor himself. The urn is a remarkable tribute to one of the greatest minds in history.
The creation of the Nikola Tesla Museum represents a significant milestone for Serbia, as it showcases the work and legacy of one of the world’s greatest inventors. Tesla’s life and work continue to inspire scientists, engineers, and enthusiasts worldwide.
The Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade
Beyond the museum, visitors to Belgrade can also see several monuments and statues dedicated to Tesla throughout the city. One of the most striking is the bronze statue of Tesla that stands in front of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. This statue was unveiled in 1963 and has become a symbol of Tesla’s enduring legacy and his close ties to the city of Belgrade since.
The airport in Belgrade is named after this great scientist. Nikola Tesla Airport is located in Surčin, approximately 18 kilometers west of Belgrade’s city center, making it easily accessible by means of either public or private transportation.
The airport has two terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and several amenities such as shops, restaurants, and car rental services. Terminal 1 is primarily used for domestic flights and low-cost carriers, while Terminal 2 serves international airlines and serves as a hub for several airlines, including Air Serbia, Wizz Air, and Ryanair, and offers direct flights to over 60 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Some of the most popular destinations include London, Paris, Vienna, Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Moscow.
As we have seen, Nikola Tesla’s legacy lives on not only in his scientific breakthroughs but also in the pride of Serbia. Belgrade proudly displays its connection to this brilliant inventor and offers visitors a chance to explore his roots firsthand. With so much history and culture waiting to be discovered, a visit to Belgrade is an ideal way to pay homage to Tesla while experiencing all that Serbia has to offer. Not only will you discover the city’s rich history and culture, but you’ll also be able to appreciate the unique impact that Tesla had on both Serbia and the world.
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