Above: Transmitting Tesla Tower and Laboratory built in 1901-1905 by Stanford White, famous architect and Tesla's friend. Located in Wardenclyffe, Long Island. This was to be the first broadcasting system in the world. Tesla also wanted to transmit electricity from this Tower to the whole globe without wires using the Ionosphere. The source of the transmitted electricity was to be the Niagara Falls power plant.

The Famous Wardenclyffe Tesla Laboratory and Tesla Tower on Long Island was the first site of wireless transmission of electrical energy and the first telecommunication center in the world. Today, this site is abandoned and in decay.

Today barbed wires and security guards have taken over and encircled the Tesla Laboratory and the foundation where the Tesla Tower once stood.

Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory is encircled by barbed wires and security guards in Shoreham, Long Island, New York.

Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory in Shoreham, Long Island, New York.

Transmission Lines close to the Tesla Laboratory. Tesla wanted to transmit electricity without wires and abolish these transmission lines.

Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory is encircled by barbed wires and security guards in Shoreham, Long Island, New York.

Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory is encircled by barbed wires and security guards in Shoreham, Long Island, New York..

Above: Tesla Street close to the Wardenclyffe Laboratory on Long Island, New York, crossing Route 25A.

Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory is encircled by barbed wires and security guards in Shoreham, Long Island, New York..

The Road to Wardenclyffe

We ride down the long road to Wardenclyffe, which ends for us at the corner of RT 25A and Tesla. At the site a small brick tower protrudes from the trees, the only beacon that remains for wandering engineers.

The beacon affixed with a modern flood light, now broken, remains only to serve the simple purpose of insulting the ornate steel frame work that crowns the beacon. The rest of the facility is shrouded by a veil. A veil made of barbed wire fencing and poison ivy, woven on a loom of ignorance and disappreciation.

We follow the fencing around the periphery of the site. We round a bend to discover a guard shed, door open and empty. The post appeared to be abandoned, a news paper was left open on the chair and the radio blared news reports which poured out of the open shed and down the empty drive way.

We continued around the periphery of the site by taking a trail that led us behind the property. Large power lines on metal poles transverse the complex and hang above the former entry way of Tesla’s Lab in spite. The power poles stand tall, like towers of blasphemy shouting down silent ridicule at what remains of a lost idea. An idea for transmitting electricity that would have made those very same power towers obsolete.

As we continue to walk the trail parallel with the power lines we meet some locals. We inquire about Tesla’s Lab, asking them what has become of it. They tell us that the company that owned the property had poisoned the land with chemicals and the area was restricted for such reasons. The same company that had dumped the chemicals also built additions on to Tesla’s original lab. These buildings appeared like a cancerous growth on the side of the 101 year old building.

Continuing to follow the trail in the shadow of the power lines we regain sight of the brick beacon and its cast iron crown. To get a better look, we near the vine covered barb wire fence surrounding the complex. We find that the vine growth like hair conceals an opening in the fence. I pull the vines aside and force my way through the cut that has been made in the chain link. I leave behind me the shade of the vines and my friend Aaron, as I exit the darkness of the plant growth and enter into light. The light reflects brightly on the shiny gravel which covers the contaminated ground, and my eyes take a moment to adjust. As I take one step forward onto the gritty sandy soil which feels strange beneath my feet, I hear Aaron say something from outside the fencing and I reply…….

Aaron Schott: “What’s in there?”

Mark Barlow: “The forfeited dream of a genius.”



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Wardenclyffe - A Forfeited Dream Above: Transmitting Tesla Tower and Laboratory built in 1901-1905 by Stanford White, famous architect and Tesla's friend. Located in Wardenclyffe, Long Island. This was to be the first broadcasting system in the world. Tesla also wanted to transmit electricity from this Tower to the whole globe without wires using the Ionosphere. The source of the transmitted electricity was to be the Niagara Falls power plant. Wardenclyffe in Barbed Wires The Famous Wardenclyffe Tesla Laboratory and Tesla Tower on Long Island was the first site of wireless transmission of electrical energy and the first telecommunication center in the world. Today, this site is abandoned and in decay. Today barbed wires and security guards have taken over and encircled the Tesla Laboratory and the foundation where the Tesla Tower once stood. Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory is encircled by barbed wires and security guards in Shoreham, Long Island, New York. Above: Aerial view of Wardenclyffe property. Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory in Shoreham, Long Island, New York. Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory in Shoreham, Long Island, New York. Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory in Shoreham, Long Island, New York. Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory in Shoreham, Long Island, New York. Transmission Lines close to the Tesla Laboratory. Tesla wanted to transmit electricity without wires and abolish these transmission lines. Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory is encircled by barbed wires and security guards in Shoreham, Long Island, New York. Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory is encircled by barbed wires and security guards in Shoreham, Long Island, New York.. Above: Tesla Street close to the Wardenclyffe Laboratory on Long Island, New York, crossing Route 25A. Above: Today's Tesla Wardenclyffe Laboratory is encircled by barbed wires and security guards in Shoreham, Long Island, New York.. Hello All, Accompanied by some good friends I made it to the 2006 Tesla Conference at Brookhaven Long Island which helped to commemorate the 150th birthday (which was July 10th) of the electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. After the conference we made the pilgrimage to the old site of the Wardenclyffe Tower where Tesla had his lab. I took some pictures and wrote a short story about our visit. Best Wishes, Mark Barlow The Road to Wardenclyffe We ride down the long road to Wardenclyffe, which ends for us at the corner of RT 25A and Tesla. At the site a small brick tower protrudes from the trees, the only beacon that remains for wandering engineers. The beacon affixed with a modern flood light, now broken, remains only to serve the simple purpose of insulting the ornate steel frame work that crowns the beacon. The rest of the facility is shrouded by a veil. A veil made of barbed wire fencing and poison ivy, woven on a loom of ignorance and disappreciation. We follow the fencing around the periphery of the site. We round a bend to discover a guard shed, door open and empty. The post appeared to be abandoned, a news paper was left open on the chair and the radio blared news reports which poured out of the open shed and down the empty drive way. We continued around the periphery of the site by taking a trail that led us behind the property. Large power lines on metal poles transverse the complex and hang above the former entry way of Tesla’s Lab in spite. The power poles stand tall, like towers of blasphemy shouting down silent ridicule at what remains of a lost idea. An idea for transmitting electricity that would have made those very same power towers obsolete. As we continue to walk the trail parallel with the power lines we meet some locals. We inquire about Tesla’s Lab, asking them what has become of it. They tell us that the company that owned the property had poisoned the land with chemicals and the area was restricted for such reasons. The same company that had dumped the chemicals also built additions on to Tesla’s original lab. These buildings appeared like a cancerous growth on the side of the 101 year old building. Continuing to follow the trail in the shadow of the power lines we regain sight of the brick beacon and its cast iron crown. To get a better look, we near the vine covered barb wire fence surrounding the complex. We find that the vine growth like hair conceals an opening in the fence. I pull the vines aside and force my way through the cut that has been made in the chain link. I leave behind me the shade of the vines and my friend Aaron, as I exit the darkness of the plant growth and enter into light. The light reflects brightly on the shiny gravel which covers the contaminated ground, and my eyes take a moment to adjust. As I take one step forward onto the gritty sandy soil which feels strange beneath my feet, I hear Aaron say something from outside the fencing and I reply……. Aaron Schott: “What’s in there?” Mark Barlow: “The forfeited dream of a genius.” Wardenclyffe - A Forfeited Dream by Leland I. Anderson (click here for more information)