Computer History Museum

This is a TOTALLY AWESOME museum for anyone with even the slightest interest in computers. There are displays ranging from ancient to modern times, but the emphasis is of course on the 20^th century, and I doubt there is a collection anywhere in the world that rivals this museum. The displays are consistently well-​presented, and in every instance you see the actual hardware (and to a lesser extent software), which is amazing. If you are a computer geek, budget several hours.

I’m not a museum person but this was pretty interesting. Of course, it helps when you are someone fascinated by computers and technological history. I spent a few hours here but really, there’s so much information and history, that it’s possible to spend a day on just certain devices and what goes behind making that machine functional and how it contributed in shaping computers as we know today. Really fascinating stuff.

For context, I am a lifelong geek/​techy/​you name it. Having grown up in a family rooted very heavily in industrial automation and programming, I’ve been around every computer and machine you can imagine, and I LOVE it. My family was visiting, and my dad’s eyes lit up when we drove past this museum; you don’t see that reaction from him often.
The Computer History Museum is a Who’s Who of tech. The amount of items here, and their historical connections, will blow your mind. Having the privilege of walking through here with a fellow techie who grew up in another country took it up another notch (or ten… thousand). The stories that poured out about the museum pieces, in addition to all the labels, really brought the experience to life for me.
I docked a star because I imagined visiting without my dad, and I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much. That said, the museum –is– cool. You could hear at least 5 – 10 different languages going on at any given point. This is a place that appeals to everyone.
Thank you to all the previous item-​owners who donated their relics!

I’m not a huge museum fan, especially when you combine that with the subject of computer history, but this museum pleasantly surprised me! Let me get this out of the way… THIS PLACE IS SO FREAKING COOL.
My boyfriend wanted to see the IBM 1401 demonstration, so we motorcycled down from San Francisco and found plenty of parking in the huge lot right outside the museum. The staff member at the front desk was extremely friendly as she gave us all the information and maps for the exhibits and tours happening that day. General admission is $ 15 per person. There are student discounts available.
We made it just in time to hear the 30 minute talk about the history of the IBM 1401. There was a group of 7-​year-​old kids attending the talk for a birthday party, and they got to interact with some of the machines which I’m sure they loved. It was exciting for everyone!
Once my boyfriend had finished satisfying his curiosity at this exhibit, we took a tour of the main exhibit floor. The docent covered highlights of the exhibit but took way too long, so I ended up wandering around on my own. It was really cool to walk through the 20 sections and see the evolution of computers. Very well-​done exhibit.
Lastly, we heard the talk about the Babbage Difference Engine, which was quite fascinating. Hearing the cool story behind the engine put its existence into perspective. In the end, we ended up spending around three hours exploring the exhibits and hearing the various talks, as well as buying souvenirs from the gift shop. Well-​worth our time and admission fee. You don’t have to be in the industry to enjoy this place!

I attended my company’s winter holiday party here. They have nice ballrooms upstairs, but that’s boring/​not the reason most people come here.
The museum itself is sadly just… okay. I love technology and learning about history, but for a museum about computer history it was kind of boring! This museum is about the technology that shapes the modern world! I would have loved to see some more interactive exhibits and learning opportunities!
Take a walk through if you are in the area. Otherwise there are too many other things to do in the Bay Area for you to make a special trip here!

I can’t remember the last time I went to a museum so when my boyfriend spontaneously suggested it, we ended up here, at the Computer History Museum!
Can’t miss this place! Smack dab on your right side after you get off the freeway. Plenty of parking.
Immediately upon walking in my boyfriend and I were greeted. $ 15 for a regular one day ticket and $ 12 for students (with ID). We got these adorable green pins that gave us all day access. The gentlemen at the front desk was VERY helpful. He explained the entire museum layout to us and went over the exhibits they have and what time they were happening.
We got there just in time for the IBM 1401 exhibit in which we were taken back to 1960 and introduced to «new cutting edge» technology. I felt the lecture ran a bit too long (over half an hour), but it was very educational and the two gentlemen presenting were very charismatic.
After that we wandered around into the actual museum exhibits; there was 20 of them, starting from 1: Calculators to 20: What’s next?
There was SO much to look at and it had everything, from videos to pictures, to gadgets, etc. My boyfriend really enjoyed himself (he works in the industry). I was very fascinated with the keyboards throughout the years. Overall it was very educational and I’m glad I got to visit this place one.
We stopped and browsed the gift shop before leaving. They had the cutest little things! My favorite was hand-​turn-​music-​box.
They also had a café right in the middle of the museum. There’s a sign outside that says the café is open to the public. It seemed like a nice, quiet place to have lunch one of these days.

If you like computers and history, this is a one time must visit nerd out spot. It’s lacking in a lot of unique things, but it has everything on the main display of the history of computers from early times to now, with tons of history and devices that are too old for most people to recognize.
Wish they had some more up to date future stuff (they did with Google driving cars, Google maps, etc, but not quite super high tech).
Still worth visiting if you’re visiting Google/​Facebook for example nearby.

As somebody who has been into computers before he was into cars, ladies, and sweet hair gel, this place was an awesome assortment of computers, with a plethora of information on them.
It was amazing to see so many computers that I’ve only read about, and the quantity is up there with the quality as well.
Would love to come back and spend a day here, just as soon as I convince my wife that she wants to go too!

You either have to really be into computers, technology, or history to enjoy this museum. I’m not super into technology – I mean it doesn’t excite me. However, I love history and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of the computer – which kinda surprised me, ha! The extensive exhibits of this museum will give the techie in your life enough to satisfy. It was pretty busy on the saturday afternoon but we didn’t have to wait long to purchase our tickets. Don’t miss the Google self driving car on your way out!

Awesome place to visit if you’re in Nor– Cal :)
If you go, get in on one of those tours! :) It was pretty informative :).
The store had a ton of punny shirts :).

If you like history you will enjoy this place.
It will take a few hours to go through at a leisurely pace. Good for adults and older kids but not so much for the younger ones.
The highlight was playing with the Atari Pong game. Also some sections have video clips to view.
We came here during the Bank if America museum days. I hear there are also Groupon deals for this place as well.
There is a small café and gift shop.

I was so happy to learn that this museum is so close to the Century theater in Mountain View. I had a few more hours to kill before picking up the wife after catching Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The museum is great for anyone interested in the evolution of computers, mobile devices, and the internet. I thought their layout was brilliant — starting with the early, ancient mechanical calculators (abacus, slide rule), then working up to those clunky early machines (Eniac, Cray) before going into the rise of Apple, Microsoft, and Google. Exhibits had plenty of text and short videos to explain the history. A few interactive demos too.
I also enjoyed some nostalgia from seeing devices I grew up with — which brought back fond memories of long gaming sessions with friends and relatives. I mean, when’s the last time anyone seen an Atari 2600 or Commodore 64? And who can forget those handheld football games (Coleco!).
Other cool things at the museum: food stand (Cloud Café), huge parking lot (with many Tesla charging stations), and a pretty cool gift shop. Darn — I knew I should have bought one of those cute, stuffed androids.

I came here with very little knowledge of the museum. I worried that the concept was tacky and a waste of the $ 15 paid for admission. I was expecting some Apple IIe’s and Atari game consoles, but it’s much more than that. Sure, they have those, but they have just about everything covering hundreds of years of computing. Not just digital silicon computing, but the earliest non-​electric calculators and analog computing machines. This is a one-​of-​a-​kind museum.
At first glance, the museum seems like a nerdy place, but I didn’t feel like a nerd for coming here. Granted, there are plenty of big metal boxes, but the exhibits clearly show the rapid evolution of computing, declining prices, and the influence of corporate needs. The displays focused on hardware — both computing and storage. There was very little about software.
The place is big so allow at least two hours to visit.

Amazing museum. This is a must for anyone of any age. So much to learn and do. Even kids there is a video game area and other interesting hands on technology.
My favorite exhibits were the processors, video games/​consoles, and the google self driving car. So much great information!
Very friendly staff as well!

This may go without saying but you need to be really into computers to like this museum. And I mean it. I like all kinds of museums — even ones most other people find weird or boring — but this museum just wasn’t for me. It’s all about computers — the actual physical machines. There aren’t cool mechanical parts to look at really — just lots of wires and things with no placards that explain how they work and very little historical context.
How about how they completely changed some industries and the stories around that? How about seeing some of them in action? Computers aren’t that interesting when sitting around «dead».
However, if you love computers there are a lot of them and they trace the history from the first calculators up through games. So there’s lots of variety and descriptions of everything. They even have the new Google self-​driving car though all you can do is sit in it.
It might be better if you take a tour with a docent (available at noon and 2pm).
I did ask and receive a discount for biking all the way there from SF so didn’t feel too bad. And I did get to follow Paul Giamatti (yes, the Hollywood actor) around the museum while they filmed something for National Geographic so it wasn’t a total loss.

I absolutely LOVED this museum and if you are into the history of computers, this is a MUST see place.
There is all sorts of cool displays all the way back from 2,000 BC to the mainframes of the 1960s, Cray supercomputers, to the early Altair 8800, and even an original Apple 1.
I spent a few hours here and this place is beautiful. However, if you are not into computers or history, I am sure this place will not impress you at all, but if you are a computer nerd — this place is Nirvana.

This is a great resource for the public to use!
Every kid in the area should go since admission is free for anyone younger than twelve years of age.
The tours are free too, and they happen twice a day at noon and 2pm! The docent who guided me through the museum was Erik. I liked him a lot because he was extremely patient with some of the more rambunctious kids who wouldn’t keep quiet, and he explained computers in a way that everyone was able to understand. He claimed to be a little cynical, but I thought he had a logical way of explaining things which was perfect for the type of place we were at. I mean come on… It’s the Computer History Museum, not Chuck E. Cheese’s.
I really enjoyed the more hands-​on displays where I was able to use an abacus and play Pac-​Man, but wish I was allowed to touch more things. (There are buttons EVERYWHERE and the temptation was just too strong!)
That said, you really should plan a day out in Mountain View and visit this place if you can. Other fun activities across the street include a laser tag arena, movie theater, and kite-​flying park.

Fair Warning: Before deciding on coming here, just be aware that this is more of an adult museum. The only thing kids will enjoy in my opinion, and that is if they enjoy math in general, is the Calculators Exhibit. It’s at the very beginning of your ‘self-​guided tour’. Other than that, it’ll be a trip down memory lane for most of us geeks and techies. Okay, now where do I start?
How about, ‘parking’: Simple. Exit the 101 freeway, and it’s off Shoreline Blvd. Plenty of parking space, as I really had no issue especially on a Saturday afternoon.
As you enter, the Information Desk staff signs you in and explain all the current shows and exhibits. The day I went, the two people helping us were very friendly. They seemed excited for us visiting for the first time.
We arrived at noon and started with the Babbage Engine demonstration. I forgot the demonstrator’s name, but that old guy with the suspenders was totally cool. You can feel his enjoyment in wanting you to learn about it. As for the machine itself, it’s just baffling in the amount of parts used to make this thing work. The design and operation of this engine was simply mind-​blowing. Go check it out!
Now continuing with the other exhibits, I really enjoyed reading the history of it all. Starting with calculation methods, to punch cards, early computers, programming, computer gaming, and the internet. I only wish they had more about networking, as the only few examples were near the end of the tour. I guess I was expecting to see more cable porn. But if I gotta highlight any exhibit, I’d probably say its seeing how chips/​transistors were made and later on redeveloped over the years. Not to mention the various types of storage we’ve used.
Overall, I enjoyed this museum and hope to bring by dad here someday. He’s into computers more than I am! Now, can we please quit with the ‘nerd’ comments, my feelings are hurt!

Um sonho para qualquer nerd ou geek.
Preciso falar muito sobre este lugar? Acredito que só de falar para um viciado em Apple que eles tem um Lisa, um Apple I, um Apple II e um Macintosh original já é o suficiente para entrar ali e passar bons momentos admirando toda a história que antes a maioria só conhece com o «Piratas do Vale do Silício».
Tem tours guiados a cada 1 ou 2 horas, o que é uma boa de fazer pois os instrutores deixam você pegar em algumas peças históricas com eles ou até mesmo há demonstrações de algumas máquinas.
O ingresso não é muito caro e eu recomendo, se você for um nerd de primeira ou geek, de comprar o combo que vem com o livro e a camisa, além do adesivo para você colocar em seu computador. Estudante? Tem desconto.
Após sair, aproveite para dar um rolê pelo Googleplex.

Nerd alert! I think this museum is fairly new? I saw the Groupon deal for 6 tickets is $ 35. I think we had a 20% off groupon code too. Otherwise regular adult admission is $ 15 each. Kids 12 years and younger are free.
The lady at the info counter was so nice and welcoming! We had bought too many tickets because my brother couldn’t make it last min and my other brother is actually free admission. Without me having to ask, she said I’m going to give you guys two free tickets to come back since you paid for two extra with the deal. That’s so nice! I thought I would have to eat the cost.
Tour (50 min) — the tour was split to two groups due to size. We were lucky to get Paul (I think his name?). He worked at IBM and got hired by Apple as a contractor to write their operating system. He met Steve Wozniak. Later he worked for Atari. So his credibility and experience is crazy.
The tour takes you through the evolution of computers exhibit (R|Evolution). But the tour is kinda dry at times. It would’ve been nice to see more of the newer stuff were familiar with. He kinda only focused on the earlier stages of computers and it seemed he ran out of time.
Babbage machine viewing (1 hr plus) — this was said to be highly recommended to see. But it was super crowded to even see. I can’t believe the presentation took about an hour when what I feel should only take 30 min max. It’s a long time for ppl to be standing. But it is cool to see the machine in action and hear the neat history and stories behind it.
Check out the Google self driving car, re walk through the history of computers exhibit at your own pace. Cool to see some of the old video game consoles and cell phones. Nice to see things you own are a part of history here.
Besides having a few cons. this museum is a must see! Especially when you’re in the heart of Silicon Valley.

**BEST NERD CAVE IN SILICON VALLEY!!!**
I was fortunate enough to get the Groupon deal for 2 tix under $ 20. Took my boyfriend here for a date because he hasn’t been here before and he’s into computer and coding, so why the hell not, right?!
At first, I thought this museum was just about computers and nothing else. I was totally shocked to see that they have incorporated many different areas of tech and innovation to this museum.
1^st Tour: Babbage decimal digital machine
We were lucky to be able to join in on the tour about the Babbage decimal machine. You basically learn about the ins and outs about this wondrous, complex, piece of work. You also learn about the history of Charles Babbage and how he came about with innovating this exemplary machine. Mathematicians — this is a must see! The tour guide explains in full-​scale detail as to how it works and counts up and down decimals, moves decimal places over, etc. He even gives us a math problem, cranks the machine up and shows how the machine reaches it’s answer! It’s truly an epic experience! I cannot explain further about this tour, you’ll have to check it out yourself!
Hunger strikes: Cloud Café
If you have the munchies at any time throughout the duration of your visit, there’s always the Cloud café. They provide croissant’s, pastries, soups, salads, and up to a full-​lunch meal! The food does take a little while to prep as there are usually about 1 – 2 people assisting at the Cloud Café, but they try to do what they can.
2^nd Tour: Self-​Guided Tour
You start off by watching this introduction show in their mini theater about innovations that have changed the world and made the world a better place. It’s pretty awe-​inspiring how much technology plays a vital role in our everyday lives!
After the show, you are directed to the beginning of the self-​guided tour, where you learn about how the very first computer came to be, how big and complex they are to the very present time of our times. You learn about IBM, Apple, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak. hacking, coding, patents released, and much much more. You also learn about the first video game consoles, and see an array of consoles that have been used over generations. It’s so amazing to see how much things have innovated, from super large consoles to a more compact-​size console.
You think there were only computer related stuff here? Not! They also have a Google Self-​driving car parked to check out! You can sit in it and check out the specs! They even have the Google Maps bike, which were what Googlers would use when certain locations weren’t easily accessible by automobile.
There was an overwhelming amount of information to grasp and go goo-​goo-​ga-​ga about.
Museum Store:
YES YES YES, they even have a freaking store! …with lots of cool, geeky stuff to play around with from circuit board and coding games, to techie tees, to stuffed animals, circuit board business card holders, techie stickers for your laptop and much much more! They have goodies from Facebook to novels and how-to’s about coding and computer engineering. Don’t leave this museum until you have dropped by their store!
In conclusion:
I highly recommend this museum to any of my friends (regardless if they’re in tech or not). With the amount of technology that’s used in our daily lives, you cannot avoid it and I think it’s important to at least look back into history as to how it all got started!

Si Silicon Valley est la Mecque du geek, le Computer History Museum est probablement sa Kaaba. Musée passionnant de l’histoire des calculateurs puis des ordinateurs, retraçant 2000 ans d’efforts de l’être humain pour se forger des outils qui comptent et organisent mieux, plus vite, plus sûrement que son seul cerveau. Bien sûr, l’accent est mis sur l’ordinateur, depuis l’ENIAC, développé par l’armée américaine pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale et considéré comme le premier véritable ordinateur, jusqu’aux smartphones actuels. Mais pas seulement: né manquez pas à 13h tous les jours la démonstration de l’incroyable calculateur de Babbage, monstrueuse mécanique automatisant à la force du poignet le calcul différentiel, imaginée au 19ième siècle par son inventeur Charles Babbage, qui n’a jamais réussi à financer sa construction, mais a laissé des plans suffisamment précis pour qu’elle puisse être finalement construite dans les années 1990… et ça marche !
L’enfant de l’informatique individuelle des années 80 que je suis fond bien sûr devant les Amstrad et autres TO7 (né manquez pas l’exemplaire d’Apple I signé de la main de Woz !), mais il y en a aussi pour la génération d’avant avec les IBM 360 des années 1960 ou les premières calculatrices scientifiques abordables une décennie plus tard. Forcément, l’informatique à visée militaire occupe une large place, puisque les progrès dans ce domaine ont souvent été financés par les gouvernements en quête de supériorité technologique sur le voisin à bombarder.
Visites guidées sans supplément de prix à 12h et 14h, réalisées par des bénévoles passionnés, ça vaut le coup. Les visites guidées né sont pas exhaustives des collections mais s’arrêtent sur une dizaine de pièces en une heure: il est donc recommandé de refaire un tour complet à son rythme après (ou avant) la visite guidée.

Informaticienne et copine d’informaticien, on se devait d’aller faire un tour dans ce musée. Donc nous y avons été. Malheureusement, on était légèrement fatigué, et aucune traduction n’est disponible. Tout lire en anglais, c’est vite lassant.
On a essayé de suivre une conférence sur la machine de Babbage mais impossible. On s’est tourné vers les joujoux que Google a laissé à la disposition des visiteurs: on peut monter dans la voiture, et même sur un vélo avec le paysage devant. Il explique la méthode pour GoogleMapper la planète! La fin est vraiment intéressante on peut voir le premier Apple en bois signé Woz pour les intimes, mais aussi des vieilles consoles et une partie de Pong pour écraser à plats de couture votre copain. Je pense qu’il y a des choses intéressantes à voir. Bonne visite.