Tesla Nonprofit In Contract on Wardenclyffe; Closing Expected Soon

Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, the nonprofit group that was the beneficiary of a $1.37 million fundraising campaign and is aiming to preserve Nikola Tesla's final laboratory in Shoreham as a museum, is currently in contract on the property and hoping to close by the end of the first quarter.

According to Jane Alcorn, president of the group, the non-profit went into closing just before Christmas after the viral fundraiser – which received donations from over 29,000 across the globe after web comic 'The Oatmeal' spirited the cause – finished at the beginning of October.

With the help of former Assemblyman Marc Alessi, Tesla Science Center was able to secure an $850,000 grant, which will be reimbursed to the nonprofit after the purchase is complete.

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From there, however, much work still remains to be done until a science center is actually built up. Alcorn said she hopes to replicate the previous viral success as the process of drawing out that museum moves along.

"Since the world helped contribute, as we raised money and were able to crowd source funding, we would like to listen to ideas and crowd source those as well," Alcorn said. "While we have our own ideas as well, there are a lot of creative people out there who could have ideas for the site."

The group has already put a call out to its 12,000-plus followers on Facebook, with more details to come, Alcorn said.

As for now, law group Squire & Sanders, and D & B Engineers and Architects are conducting due diligence on the property throughout the closing process, pro bono.