Web Comic Creator 'The Oatmeal' Starts Fundraiser to Save Wardenclyffe

Matthew Inman, a web comic creator better known as The Oatmeal, has started a fundraiser on indiegogo.com to attempt to save Wardenclyffe.

The fundraiser, which Inman calls 'Let's Build a Goddamn Tesla Tower,' has a goal of $850,000. Inman states that the property is listed at $1.6 million, and the Shoreham non-profit Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe has received a matching grant from New York State of up to $850,000. If the fundraiser reaches $850,000, the total with the matching grant would be $1.7 million, enough to purchase the property.

In an interview with Forbes.com, Inman said, "Nikola Tesla was an unsung hero in the history books...Tesla’s rival, Thomas Edison, has multiple sites which honor his achievements, but Tesla’s got some little memorials here and there but no real museum here. This is something that needs to be fixed."

Contributors to the fundraiser are offered perks, with some perks already sold out with the donations at $456,377 as of Thursday evening.  Smaller donation perks are sold out, but the fundraiser is currently offering a bunch of Tesla goodies and an autographed poster by Tesla's last remaining relative, William Terbo for $1,000 donations.

The Shoreham non-profit's efforts recently took a hit aftter an unfortunate series of events, but the hope is this fundraiser can help. Click here to donate to the cause.