Seattle cartoonist raises nearly $1 million to honor ‘greatest geek’

Ever heard of Nikola Tesla? Thanks to Seattle cartoonist Mathew Inman and his impressive fundraising abilities, you likely will.

Inman, creator of the popular comic website The Oatmeal, has helped raise nearly $900,000 for a museum and science center honoring the inventor’s accomplishments on the fundraising sight Indiegogo.

According to a cartoon post on Inman’s site, Tesla was “the greatest geek who ever lived.” Inman praises Tesla for inventing the electrical system known as alternating current, which “still powers every home on the planet today.”

Inman says the money raised will be used to purchase Tesla’s final laboratory in sleepy Shoreham, New York. It’s where Tesla attempted to build a tower that would provide free wireless energy to the entire earth. The tower was demolished before Tesla could raise enough money to complete the project back in 1917.

Inman set an original goal of $850,000, but it was far surpassed Tuesday after a group of filmmakers working on a documentary about Tesla kicked in $33,333 (they’re said to have been inspired by Tesla’s obsession with the number 3.)

Inman says he’ll keep the campaign going to help the non-profit behind the effort to raise more money for the project. He estimates it’ll take $6 to 10 million to build the museum, according to Mashable.

He hopes to break ground on construction July 10, 2013, the anniversary of Tesla’s birthday.