Sparks will fly at exhibit opening next week
The Texarkana Museums S ystem will hold a formal opening celebration next Wednesday for an electrifying ne w exhibit of two musical Tesla coils.
Held at noon at Discovery Place Children’s Museum, the dedication and formal opening will show off these million-volt coils to be permanently housed at the Discovery Place Tesla Theatre.
William H. Terbo, a Nikola Tesla relative and a founding director, executive board chairman and executive secretary for the Tesla Memorial Society, will serve as keynote speaker. Others attending will include honored guests like donors and city officials.
The Mathias Family Trust donated the coils with a General Electric matching grant program providing additional financial assistance.
One aim with this Tesla coil donation is to publicize the many groundbreaking accomplishments of Nikola Tesla, who amassed more than 250 patent credits in his career. He’s particularly known for his work in alternating currents.
Tesla, born in 1856 and known for his achievements with electricity, has been called the “Master of Lightning.”
In this exhibit, what’s described as “caged lightning” from the coils will move to music programmed into a computer, making this exhibit truly unique. With the room dark, the discharges dance about while songs like “The Addams Family” theme play.
TMS officials see a number of benef its to the exhibit, including revenue.
“First and foremost, we’re going to get more exposure, the museums will get more exposure. It’s also an educational tool that we can use to teach children,” said Steve Rambo, TMS executive director.
At the dedication, they’ll have a radio remote, music and food to celebrate.
“We will start having shows throughout the day with discounted admission,” Rambo said. Typically, Discovery Place admission is $4.50.
“We’re doing $2 admission that includes the Tesla coil show. We’ll be showing, probably on the hour, different Tesla coil shows throughout the day,” Rambo said.
Tesla Days will last through Saturday, July 13, when special matinee shows will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. They’re geared toward kids and include a magician host, Paul Prater, performing. Tickets for those shows are $10.
The Tesla coils and protective Faraday cage were also designed in such a way that they can, with the proper safety precautions, be moved and shown elsewhere, Rambo said.
Richard Mathias, a retired electrical engineer and power industry official, donated the coils as part of a program to place them in several museum locations. He believes they will not only educate, but also inspire and entertain people.
Tesla coils first amazed him at age 8 or 9, later inspiring him to enter the electrical engineering field, he said. He built his own Tesla coils while still a youngster.
Mathias donated the Tesla coil exhibit currently displayed at Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs, Ark. He and his wife, Mary Ellen (“Professor Sparky”), also ran an educational program for schools called Sermon from Science.
The Tesla coils were designed by Eric Goodchild of Arizona.
Mathias is impressed with the final product, which he says meet and even exceed his expectations. He and his wife will attend the grand opening.
Mathias said the designer did an outstanding job. He says they’re the only dual musical Tesla coils of this size that he knows of in the country.
“These (coils) down there could maybe be entered in the Guinness World Records,” Mathias said.
And Mathias said the Tesla coils, which are surrounded by a steel cage, aren’t even running at full capacity because the auditorium is small.
The Texarkana Tesla coils produce arcs about five to six feet in size, Mathias said, but could produce even larger sparks in a bigger space.
Whatever the size of those lightning-like discharges arcing out of the coils, Mathias hopes the Tesla coils serve as an inspiration to young people. He also hopes they educate people about a great man of science.
“The number one thing I’m trying to do is to get people to realize who Nikola Tesla is,” he said.
Wednesday’s opening will also honor Tesla’s 157th birthday. He was born on July 10.
The TMS is also looking for a Tesla coil exhibit educator and tinkering facilitator. Details are available at the TMS Website.
(The Discovery Place Children’s Museum is located at 215 Pine St. More info: 903-7934831 or TexarkanaMuseums.org.)