Computer History Museum
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The Computer History Museum invites you to visit us to see and experience one of the world's largest collections of computing artifacts. Our exhibits (listed below) allow you to explore the computer revolution and its impact on the human experience.
3 Reviews for Computer History Museum
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'11, '12
1 family found this helpful
"A Technological Treasure Trove"
Computers; whether it’s a laptop, desktop or Smart Phone, you spend time daily gazing into its monitor, fiddling with its apps, playing games, sending messages and communicating around the globe but do you know the how the computer came to be? You will after a visit to the Computer History Museum.
Located in what many local geeks will recall as the old headquarters for Silicon Graphics, the museum’s new exhibit, “Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing” chronicles the evolution of modern computing. Starting with the abacus and ending with the Internet boom and smart phone, visitors wind their way through 25,000 square feet packed with the memorabilia and stories about computers.
A VARIETY OF EXHIBITS WITH BROAD APPEAL
Some pieces of the story are fascinating --- like that of the Colossus, one of the earliest electronic digital computers. It was developed during World War II by the British who used it to break messages enciphered by the German’s Lorenz machines. Other memorabilia is nostalgic like the two-dimensional Pong game I remember from my childhood. My nine-year-old daughter found it hilarious that my siblings and I found fun in such a blah looking tennis game! Some items were just plain funny ---- like the Honeywell H316 kitchen computer, a cumbersome recipe storage system that came complete with a cutting board so food could be prepared without walking away from the computer display. While many housewives loved the idea, there are no records of any ever being sold. It could be because it took about two weeks to learn how to program the thing!
A HUMAN FACE TO THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY
What I liked most about the exhibit was the human face it put on the computer industry. From the inspirational stories of early innovation to the spirit of collaboration that is still a hallmark of the Silicon Valley today; the “Revolution” exhibit is abundant with tales of brilliance and proof that California’s second gold rush was of a technological nature.
INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS
Many of the displays are interactive allowing visitors to hear the stories of computer development in the voices of pioneers who played a part in it, play a round of Pong or Miss Pacman, and even watch the original commercials for some products.
So round up your technology lovers and visit the Computer History Museum today! The Revolution exhibit is best suited for children 10 and over who have a serious interest in technology. If you’re looking for something to do on Father’s Day, take dad here. Grown-up tech fans could get lost in this place. My own husband even said, “I could stay here all day.”
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"For the Geeks :)"
I went here with my husband who is an electrical/software engineer and he loved it. I thought it was ok. There is a section about the history of computers that I liked. My husband liked the part where there are computers displayed from the oldest to the newest. Good place for the engineers in the area, could get old fast for the little ones. There are exhibits with buttons and lights that kids might like, but it is more for adults.
1 family found this helpful
"Love numbers, machines and robots?"
All kids have an interest in the first calculator, which is their 10 fingers. There is a Cray 1 Super Computer in the lobby that kids can sit next to and touch. If your toddler is into beads, there is a display of the abacus. A five year old was interested in the finite numbering system at the Babbage Engine 2 demonstration at the museum. This historic cranking calculating machine from the London Science Museum goes away to Seattle by November, 2009 to make way for new expanded exhibits. Young kids seem easily impressed by the huge size of the first computers, such as the Eniac. There is a row of robots, one that has the likes of Wally. For kids fascinated with patterns, there is an electronic chess display, complete with hands-on computer chess and a couple of tables with chess sets. A 14 year old was interested in Space Wars, presented by the first MIT pioneers of computer gaming on a WWII mechanical radar scanner. Besides the educational exhibits, gracious volunteer tour guides, water coolers, restrooms, gift shop, and spacious grounds make this museum family friendly. Free to the public and open Wednesday to Friday, and Sunday from 12 to 4 pm. Saturdays 11am-5pm. Every 1st and 3rd Saturday, the PDP1 computer gaming demo is on.
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