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Nikola Tesla Monument within Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls (Canadian Side) will be unveiled on July 9, 2006 celebrating the 150th birthday of Nikola Tesla

Above: Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) at the age of 38.

St. George Serbian Church, Niagara Falls, Ontario has successfully negotiated and secured a World destination site, of an outstanding design, for the establishment of a significant monument to Nikola Tesla within Queen Victoria Park.  The Nikola Tesla Memorial is scheduled to be unveiled at Niagara Falls on Sunday, July 9, 2006 marking the 150th anniversary of Nikola Tesla's birth.

The Monument Design is the result of an international competition which saw submitions from across North America and Europe, the winning artist is Les Drysdale of Hamilton, Ontario. 

Above: Les Drysdale, the Tesla monument sculptor.

This is the e-mail from the sculptor of the Tesla Monument, Les Drysdale, to Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York:

Dear Dr. Vujovic
Thank you for your prompt reply. I just ordered the book from Barnes and
Noble. I hope it has what  I am looking for. Early in my research I did meet
with Siemens Westinghouse in Canada but they were not that helpful. I will
look up Westinghouse in the USA, they might have a photograph I might be
able to use. I will try the Belgrade museum also. Thank you very much for
your advice. I will try sending you the photograph of the drawing and you do
have my permission to use it on your website. The following is  the written
discription of the design.  The sculpture will be unveiled July 9 2006.
Thank you again. 
You are welcome to contact me anytime.
Sincerely Les Drysdale


Description of Sculpture and Concept
Tesla would be sculpted, as he would have appeared in 1896, age 39, about
the time his inventions were being used to create The Niagara Falls Power
station. His appearance would reflect the clothing of the time, in
particular that which would be unique to Tesla himself.
I have chosen to depict Tesla, tall slender and elegantly attired, facing
and walking towards the falls. He is pausing and in the process of creation.
  As the story goes, the idea for the AC motor was drawn on the ground
during a walk with a friend. I have adapted this story by creating a natural
pathway on which Tesla is walking. My intention is to show the ‘mystery that
is his mind’, developing an abstract idea from the theoretical to the
concrete, as most of his inventions were developed entirely from start to
precise completion in his head. Tesla is drawing three sine waves that are
out of sync by 120 degrees (his revolutionary idea that created AC
electricity) The waves he is drawing flow out and into the real foundation
beneath him, the AC motor, as does the idea become the foundation of every
motor and generator to this day.

Sight And Placement

The sculpture has been designed specifically for the intended site.  At 10ft
6in in total height and 8ft in length  it will stand out both as an striking
monument to an incredible man and also blend harmoniously with the
landscape.  The orientation is such that both pedestrians and automobile
traffic will enjoy the full impact of the piece. The dynamic nature of the
figure in motion with wind blown Prince Albert Jacket combined with the
porous mass and intricate forms of the motor machinery, encourages and
invites closer inspection which is the sculptures purpose, to celebrate,
inform and educate the public about this amazing man and his
accomplishments.
The outside housing of the motor has a large flat surface on which an
informational inscription can be placed describing Tesla’s involvement with
power generation at the falls. On the back surface of the motor housing I
plan to inscribe the following quote, which is inspiration for the entire
concept. “The possibilities of will power and self control appeal
tremendously to my vivid imagination…. Until finally my will and wish become
identical. They are so today, and in this lies the secret of whatever
success I have achieved. My imaginings were equivalent to realities.”
                                        Tesla 1915

Niagara Falls, 1896

Tesla-Westinghouse First Hydroelectric Power Plant on Niagara Falls

Photos from the Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C., the greatest American Museum

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum and research complex with 17 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and nine research centers.  The collections are vast, some 143.5 million objects - some of America's most significant artistic, scientific and historic treasures.  Nikola Tesla is presented well in the Smithsonian Institution.  Tesla Memorial Society of New York is grateful to the Smithsonian Institution for the beautiful presentation of Tesla's contribution to humanity.

Above: Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York in front of the Smithsonian Institution (National Museum of American History), Washington D.C. on January 21, 2005.

Nikola Tesla is well represented in the Smithsonian Institution

Above: Nikola Tesla's biography displayed in the Smithsonian Institution.

Above: Niagara Falls, New York - the first great hydroelectric power plant in the world, 1895.
 

Above: Nikola Tesla participated with his patents in the construction of the first big generators for polyphase currents as testified by the plate from one of the generators of the Niagara Plant (1895) which lists 13 of Tesla's patents, all used in the construction of Niagara Falls Power Plant.

Above: Dr. Ljubo Vujovic by the satellite photo of the "Earth at Night".  A testimony to Tesla's contribution to our civilization.  Tesla's Alternating Current is lighting the globe.  Tesla is the genius who lit the world.

There is an impressive display of photos and text about Niagara Falls Hydro-Electric Power Plant which Nikola Tesla designed and George Westinghouse financed and finished in 1895. Niagara Falls was the final victory of Tesla's Alternating Current (AC) Electricity over Edison's Direct Current (DC) Electricity.  Niagara Falls marked a new era of electricity in the world.  The electrification of America and the world has begun after Niagara Falls Power Plant.

Above: Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York with his son Marko Vujovic, Web Designer of teslasociety.com, visited the Smithsonian Institution, January 21, 2005.  They made the photos of Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., a presentation of Nikola Tesla's achievements.

Above: A photograph of the building of Niagara Falls.

Tesla's Induction Motor

Tesla's induction motor revolutionized the industry and house-hold appliances in the 19th and 20th century.  It was proclaimed one of the ten greatest inventions of all times.  It uses electrical energy to produce mechanical energy and replaced manual labor in factories.  Everything which moves in the electrical field of various machines and house-hold appliances is powered by Tesla's induction motor. 

Above and Below: Tesla AC induction motor.

Above: Tesla Induction Motor in house-hold appliances.