SHOREHAM, N.Y. – Internet "crowdfunding" has raised $1.3 million to restore a New York laboratory once used by Nikola Tesla.
The visionary scientist was a rival of Thomas Edison. He imagined a world of free electricity.
Organizers hope to purchase his Wardenclyffe laboratory, located about 65 miles east of New York City.
They plan to create a science center on the Long Island property.
The property has fallen into disrepair in recent decades. Tesla used it in the early 20th Century.
Seattle-based Internet cartoonist Matthew Inman began the fundraising in August.
He promoted the effort on his website, theOatmeal.com. The group received an overwhelming response on the Indiegogo.com Web site, which collected the donations.
Over 33,000 contributions were received from donors in the U.S. and 108 countries.
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