A gymnasium is the Croatian equivalent of a U.S. prep school, and the Gymnasium Karlovac (or the Higher Real Gymnasium, as it is sometimes called) can trace its physical construction to 1863, and its educational origins as far back as 1766.

One of the gymnasium's most notable alumnus is Nikola Tesla, who went to school here from 1870 to 1873 (graduating a year early). It was due to his encounters with an inspiring physics professor that Tesla pursued mechanical engineering and invention.

The Gymnasium Karlovac remains in operation to this day.

view full location details...

On July 10, 1856, Nikola Tesla was born in the village of Smiljan, located in the mountainous region of Lika in Croatia (about 6 km northwest of Gospić). The son of a Serbian Orthodox priest and an illiterate mother, Tesla was a subject of the Austrian empire by birth (the area was known as the Croatian Military Frontier of the Austrian Empire at the time). Tesla's family moved to nearby Gospić in 1862.

In 2006, to celebrate the 150th birthday of Tesla, Croatian officials opened a Tesla memorial in the town. Tesla's birth house, the Orthodox Church of St. Peter and Paul, and several other buildings with displays, inventions and exhibits are open to the public.

view full location details...

In the battle of the currents between Edison and Tesla, one of the crowning achievements for Tesla was the construction of the Niagara Falls power plant.

In 1893, Westinghouse Electric was hired to design a system that could generate alternating current power from the falls. Tesla was put to work on the project, utilizing a new three-phase system of alternating current (along with 13 other patents by Tesla) that allowed transfer of electricity over longer distances.

The Adams Power Plant Transformer House still stands as part of the project. On Goat Island, there is a monument to Tesla that was given to the U.S. by Yugoslavia. The statue, depicting Tesla seated while reading a book, was created in 1976 by Croatian sculptor Frane Krsinic.

view full location details...

Unveiled on July 9, 2006, Queen Victoria Park has a statue to honor Nikola Tesla's contribution to the hydroelectric power plant at Niagara Falls.

The statue depicts a determined Tesla wearing a long coat, pointing a cane to an AC motor that he is standing on.

Here's a picture of the statue with some guy named David.

view full location details...

This building is the only remaining structure of the first large-scale, alternating current electric generating plant in the world- the Edward Dean Adams Power Plant.

Put into operation on August 25, 1895, the hydroelectric plant was a collaboration of several organization over the course of three years. Notably, Westinghouse Electric was subcontracted to build the AC generators based on the work of Nikola Tesla and Benjamin G. Lamme.

The construction of the power plant was an enormous undertaking. In one tunnel alone, 16 million bricks were used to line the walls and cost the lives of 28 workers.

Today, the Adams Power Plant is on the National Historic Register, but is fenced off and in a state of disrepair. There is talk of converting it into a science museum.

view full location details...