Top 5 Specialty Museums in Lika-Senj County, Lika-Senj County

Reviewed By 228aleksandrab - Nairobi, Kenya

It is not that it is a huge museum and you can spend a whole day there but how can you be in Croatia and not visit the place where Tesla grew up. Was he really born there?.....yes, it is reported everywhere that he is but actually he was born in village Stikada. His mother was at her parents' house in Tomingaj, near little town Gracac when the labour pains started. As it was unacceptable at that time to give a birth at parents' house without husband/father of the baby being there, Tesla's mother (Georgina Djuka Tesla born Mandic) was put on the horse coach and started a 60km journey to Smiljan so that Djuka could give a birth in her and her husband's house in Smiljan. But 13km after they started the journey, labour pains became intensive and they were forced to stop and look for a help at the house of the priest in the village of Stikada. This was easy because Tesla's father was a priest and his maternal grandfather too. So, Nikola Tesla was born in Stikada. The church is still there but destroyed after 2nd world war and never renovated after. The priest's house is also still there, right next to the church but now in a private ownership and the top floor was added to it. Soon after the mother recovered from the labour they continued to Smiljan and Nikola Tesla's birth was registered in Smiljan. This story went from generation to generation and I knew about it because I come from that region. This is an additional story about Tesla that you will not hear at the museum. But, you can see and hear about just a few of his inventions there and experience the place and the house where Tesla lived as very little before moving to Gospic. From that house, Tesla was jumping from the roof carrying umbrella and trying to fly. The place is well maintained. You can also see a short documentary about Tesla with English subtitles. There is a little souvenir shop and a very nice playground for kids. Also, you can find a little kiosk there to get some snacks, ice cream and coffee.