Did you know the man behind electric power was born in Croatia? 4 Tesla facts to share

Nikola Tesla was born in the village of Smiljan, Croatia. A short fun-fact list about him and the memorial centre you can visit.

Published 2026-10-22 · Source checked 2026-10-21

You may use electricity every day, but did you know a key pioneer of modern alternating current was born in the country where you now work?

Fact 1: Nikola Tesla was born in July 1856 in Smiljan, a village in Lika, central Croatia, then part of the Austrian Empire.

Also read:Croatia NewsWhy Croatia's cemeteries glow on 1 November, and the free buses in Zagreb you can use

Fact 2: He later moved to the United States and is best known for his work on alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the type that comes from your wall socket.

Fact 3: The house area in Smiljan is now the Tesla Memorial Center, with exhibitions about his life and inventions, run as part of the Technical Museum Nikola Tesla.

Fact 4: Tesla is a national hero in Croatia. You will find his name on streets, a technical museum in Zagreb and on the Croatian 10, 20 and 50 cent euro coins.

What to do: if you have a day off, check the opening hours on the museum website before travelling, as seasons change. Tell us on our Facebook page: which famous person from your own home town would you want Croatians to know about?

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