Nikola Tesla Statue

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.