Computer History Museum

If you are into both computer history and the latest high tech gadgets, this is the place. The museum has a tons of exhibits. It also has a computer timeline from the past 2000 thousand years to the present. I would recommend that you check it out as it is so cool.There is also a cafe in the middle of the museum. The cafe has a great sized menu such as sandwiches and soups. Of course, the cafe has coffee and other drinks. That is also so cool. There is one advantage, which is you can eat and drink your coffee or whatever without paying for admission to the museum.

Located in Mountain View, the Computer History Museum is a captivating journey through the evolution of computing technology, offering insights into its profound impact on society. As technology enthusiasts, we were eager to explore its extensive collection, spanning from early mechanical calculators to modern-day innovations.The museum itself is a treasure trove of historical artifacts and interactive exhibits that vividly illustrate key milestones in computing history. Walking through the exhibits, we marveled at early computers like the ENIAC and Colossus, marveling at their massive size and imagining the ingenuity required to create them.One highlight of our visit was the opportunity to interact with exhibits towards the end of the museum. Here, visitors can experience firsthand the evolution of user interfaces and gaming technology. However, we felt that these interactive elements could have been integrated earlier in the tour to enhance engagement throughout the visit.During our time at the museum, they were showcasing a retro game collection, which unfortunately left us somewhat underwhelmed. The collection was smaller than expected, lacking some of the iconic titles that defined early gaming history. While it provided a glimpse into gaming's past, we left wishing for a more comprehensive representation of this pivotal aspect of computing history.Despite this minor disappointment, the Computer History Museum remains a must-visit for anyone passionate about technology. Its comprehensive displays and educational presentations offer valuable insights into how computers have evolved from room-sized machines to handheld devices that shape our daily lives. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or simply curious about the origins of the digital age, the museum provides a fascinating journey through time that is both informative and inspiring.

Very informative museum, exceeded my expectations! The museum has quite a large collection, and I found the displays to be interesting to browse through even though I am not really interested in the topic. One half of the museum is mainly history while the other half is more interactive. Very kid friendly. There is also a small cafe. My dad and I spent about 2 hours here and were able to see all the displays and browse the gift shop. I was told you might spend the whole day here if you are really interested in computers.

Lots to explore and take your time to browse through. This museum could take half a day to walk through. There is so much crammed into this space that sometimes it can be hard to keep track of where the next chronological exhibit is. There is a lot of awesome material, interesting information, and interactive exhibits that allow you to engage with how certain devices work. That being said, a huge portion of the exhibit is not for touching so be mindful of the signage. It's a great experience to see how far we've come from the number counting of the past to the computing electronics of the recent past and how quickly obsolete our tech becomes from just a decade before. Free parking in their lot is ample and the atmosphere is generally very quiet and calm. Gift shop has some fun souvenirs too.

Free admission with Bank of America card on first weekends of the month, so take advantage. At first glance, you may be amazed by the wall of graphics and data showing the origin of emojis, or the display of the world's smallest computer which can fit on the tip of a pencil. But there's tons more to see and experience, so park in that crowded lot and give yourself at least a couple hours. Interactive exhibits in the software lab and changing gallery included the nvidia canvas (turning doodles into landscapes), playing the Wikipedia quiz (which I won of course), and distinguishing between the sounds of a vinyl record, cassette tape, CD, and mp3 playing a song of choice. In the main part of the museum (the Revolution), you'll find computers in the form of video game consoles throughout the years, shoes (ie. nike ipod), robots in different forms, and useful machines including phones, calculators, kitchen appliances, and cars. What's more, amusing exhibits showcasing the use of technology in art and music, and even the "Silicon Valley Napkin" on display. A maze of endless rooms with so much to explore, and very interesting exhibits that will bring a feeling of curiosity and nostalgia even if you're not particularly interested or well-versed in the world of technology. Also, we got some snacks and drinks from the Cloud Bistro in the lobby, and everything was delish! The last time I was here was almost two decades ago, and lots has changed. Our recent experience was certainly better than expected.

I will be honest, this might have been the most boring museum that I have ever been to BUT that does NOT detract away from the quality of the museum itself and the value that it has. I'm just too pea brained and removed from this world (despite being the most tech adjacent individual at work) to get my mind to comprehend and wrap around what this museum has to offer. HOWEVER, with that being said, if you are a CS student, studying computers, or just love tech and all the nitty gritty that goes into creating and building computers from hardware to software, THIS IS THE STOP FOR YOU! They have free docent lead tours, a Space Wars activity, other interactive things that museum goers can partake in, hands on exhibits, and games, so there is a little bit of everything for everyone of all ages. Lots of real world historical items and recreations with lots of in depth details and descriptions describing the advent of computers all the way from the humble start of calculators all the way to AI, viral videos, texting, and real world applications such as creating artwork, video games, and music. It is a bit jarring to see that some of the tech that I used when I was younger is in a museum though to be honest, but alas these are the times. I'm talking about a Sega Dreamcast, an Xbox, iPod shuffle mini, and Furbies...haha. Maybe I need to expand my brain size to fully appreciate the wonders of the Computer History Museum, but it is worth a visit if you find the subject interesting!

I have mixed feelings about this museum. I have been to the museum several times over the past few decades including for events. It is important for Silicon Valley to have a museum that documents and celebrates its origin story. However, I wish we had done a lot better. For a museum on tech, there's not a lot of tech/interactive exhibits. I have to admit, it is educational but...boring. It's a fairly quick run through and not worth the $$.

Cool museum to checkout maybe on a rainy day!? Also been here for events has nice event spaces. It's amazing to see how far humanity has come with computing in just a short amount of time!

Fun stop for my little brother who is interested in computers. I am not a huge tech person but always love to learn and go to museums. I think anyone will like this place, whether you're interested in it or not. Lots of cool interactive activities and models to look at. My whole family enjoyed it and loved looking at old devices that they owned in the past. If you need something to do in the area, try this place out! a learning experience for all! Tip: Go to Groupon for a cheaper price on four admission tickets!!!!

Cool musuem to check out to learn about the history computer from how it started to how it is now. General admission is $19.50 but if you're a student, you can get a discount. They do have couple public tours a day and they only explain each section. There's so much to see so it is better to explore on your own since there's a lot of section station where there's actually explanation of how the devices were created. There's about 20 areas so make sure to come at a reasonable time so you can enjoy the museum. They have their own parking lot which is nice.