Places to Explore
Delve deeper into the history of calculation, robotics and the internet
1 COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM
What came to be known as Silicon Valley in Northern California was one of the places where the computer revolution first took root, and now that journey is chronicled in the Computer History Museum. Located just northwest of central San Jose, the museum charts the earliest incarnations and development of the computer right up to the modern age with the latest innovations demonstrated. Here you’ll find examples of early technology, code books, business plans and various home computers from over the decades. They also chronicle the history of Silicon Valley itself and why so many businesses flocked to Northern California.
The CHM features interactive exhibitions and insight that should make it accessible to people of all ages, but it also functions as a location for important talks and demonstrations for industry luminaries. If you have an interest in both the past and future of computing, this museum right in the heart of the industry is an excellent place to visit.
Open Weds to Sun, 10am to 5pm. $19.50 general admission.
2 AMERICAN COMPUTER & ROBOTICS MUSEUM
While it may not have the square footage of other museums around the world, the American Computer & Robotics museum can boast a number of impressive qualifications that make it the equal of many. For a start, it’s been operating continuously since 1990, which actually makes it the longest running computer museum in the world. It also has exhibits that chart 4,000 years of human history, from cuneiform tablets all the way up to quantum computers and artificial intelligence. Founded by George Keremedjiev who started collecting artefacts and wanted a location to share them, the modern museum features examples of old technology, but also plenty of sci-fi items as well.
As it happens, only about six per cent of the overall collection is believed to be on display at any given time as the museum keeps an extensive archive of technology for preservation purposes. Some key highlights include a replica of the Gutenberg printing press and an Apollo 1 computer. They also include exhibits celebrating important people in the history of computing. This relatively unassuming little museum near Montana State University has even been called “Inch for inch, the best museum in the world” by a Harvard scientist.
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm. $10 adult admission.
3 THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF COMPUTING
It’s a special kind
