Wardenclyffe Tower, Experimental wireless transmission station in Shoreham, United States
Wardenclyffe Tower was an experimental transmission station in Shoreham designed by Nikola Tesla for wireless communication purposes. The metal structure, created by architect Stanford White, rose 187 feet (57 meters) and featured a large steel hemisphere at its top.
Tesla built the facility between 1901 and 1917 to establish a worldwide wireless communication network, but financial troubles forced him to abandon the project. The tower was later demolished, though the main building survived and received National Register of Historic Places recognition in 2018.
The grounds now serve as a science center where visitors can learn about Tesla's work through exhibits and programs focused on electrical systems and wireless energy transmission. School groups and technology enthusiasts use the site to understand the practical applications of his inventions and trace connections between early research and modern communication technologies.
The site is located in Brookhaven on Long Island and covers roughly 16 acres of the original laboratory grounds. Visitors should check ahead for access times, as entry depends on ongoing preservation work and educational events.
Tesla originally planned a network of similar towers to transmit electrical currents through the Earth at specific frequencies for global wireless communication. The concept was far ahead of its time and was never realized in that form, but it remained a reference point for later developments in wireless technology.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
