Thanks to the vision of the then-mayor of the Šibenik municipality, Ante Šupuk, who brought Šibenik into the modern age, and the ingenuity of engineer Vjekoslav Meichsner, the nearby Skradinski Buk waterfall on the Krka River illuminated the city with electricity using the power of its water. While Edison, Westinghouse, and Tesla were clashing in the so-called War of Currents in the USA, Šupuk and Meichsner took a risk and decided to trust in Tesla's genius, implementing an alternating current system at a time when it was even considered life-threatening.

On August 28, 1895, just two days after the first major polyphase alternating current hydroelectric power plant—the one at Niagara Falls—began operating, the Krka hydroelectric plant was put into service, making it the first of its kind in Europe. Unlike the American plant, which only began supplying electricity to the nearby city of Buffalo the following year, the Šibenik plant lit up the city via an 11 km long transmission line the very moment it started operating. "Fantastic - it wasn't late!" – these are the legendary words of Vjekoslav Meichsner, who was on a telephone call with the Krka hydroelectric plant at the moment the city lit up. Newspapers at the time reported that Šibenik was "shining like Bethlehem." Šibenik's lightning – as electricity was called back then – etched the City of Krešimir into history as a true pioneer that turned Tesla's vision into reality, right in his own homeland.

Besides the fact that today, in the Šibenik square popularly known as Medulić , you can see a replica of the first Šibenik street lamps, Šibenik celebrates electricity and light on August 28th with the Light is lifefestival. The idea, in collaboration with the Šibenik Tourist Board, is to commemorate this important historical and technological event, which laid the foundation for the development of Šibenik's industry, through light installations, cultural programs, and various attractions. It is interesting to note how significant this date is, as the Croatian Electricity Company (HEP) has adopted it as its official day.

Within Krka National Park, at Skradinski buk, you can see the remains of the original hydroelectric power plant and visit the visitor center dedicated to the hydroelectric plants on the Krka River and the industrial heritage of the Šibenik region.