Home Cartoonist Crusader Launches Fundraiser for Nikola Tesla Museum

Cartoonist Crusader Launches Fundraiser for Nikola Tesla Museum

Inventor Nikola Tesla may finally get the recognition he deserves if cartoonist Matthew Inman has his way. In a bid to buy the land on which Tesla’s former Shoreham, New York laboratory sits, the creator of The Oatmeal has launched an IndieGoGo fundraising campaign to come up with $850,000 in 45 days.

Inman’s efforts seem likely to be successful: in less than 48 hours, the fundraiser has already pulled in more half a million dollars!

Welcome to Wardenclyffe

The $850K goal is half of the $1.6 million needed to buy the land on which Tesla’s Wardenclyffe laboratory sits. A non-profit is seeking to purchase the land, which still has the old laboratory as well as the foundation for an experimental tower Tesla built to attempt to deliver wireless energy. The State of New York will provide a matching $850,000 grant, if the non-profit can come up with the rest.

The money raised in Operation Let’s Build a Goddamn Tesla Museum will go towards the land itself… Inman’s launch of the Operation details that there will still need to be money raised to actually put together a museum once the land is purchased. So Inman has also called for corporate sponsorship for the project, such as J.P. Morgan, whose founder supported Tesla during his lifetime; Tesla Motors (obviously); and as atonement for Thomas Edison’s alleged crimes against Tesla, from General Electric – the company Edison founded.

“The Internet will love you forever, I promise,” Inman wrote to GE.

Big Name Donors

Beyond the strong success of the general fundraising campaign, Inman is getting some of the big-name love he seeks. Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk didn’t put company money into the project, but did pledge some of his own cash to the cause. Publisher Tim O’Reilly and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales have also made the call for donations.

There is still an “if” here. Another purchaser is interested in buying the land and converting it to retail/commercial use. Inman outlined that his effort could still be outbid.

Tesla is a particular cause for Inman, who made the case for “Why Nikola Tesla was the greatest geek who ever lived” in his typically cutting style earlier this year. That particular cartoon stirred up some controversy, particularly with its raw criticism of Edison, who got a lot of the credit that Inman and many others feel should have gone to Tesla.

“…The only thing Edison truly pioneered was douchebaggery,” Inman’s stated in the comic.

Inman’s Earlier Tesla Dust-Up

Inman’s passion on the topic of Tesla is almost legendary in the geek community. Forbes social media editor Alex Knapp took exception to Inman’s original Tesla comic and was blasted by Inman for his troubles.

Inman’s gift for fundraising is also legendary. When he accused the site FunnyJunk.com of stealing content from The Oatmeal site in 2011, he was threatened with a defamation lawsuit by FunnyJunk lawyer Charles Carreon unless Inman paid the owners $20,000 in damages. Incensed, Inman’s response was unique: he would raise $20,000 in donations, take a photo of the money raised, and mail the attorney for FunnyJunk that photo along with a drawing of Carreon’s mom seducing a Kodiak bear. The money would be donated to the National Wildlife Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

This led to Carreon personally suing Inman, the National Wildlife Foundation and the American Cancer Society (a suit that would later be dropped). And the fundraiser? That would raise a staggering $211,223.04, which Inman photographed, as promised.

Given Inman’s enthusiasm for Tesla, and the past responsiveness of his fan base for his causes, Inman may indeed get the Goddamn Tesla Museum project on track: land, museum and all.

Tesla picture by Napoleon Sarony (1821-1896) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.