I have visited other computer history collections, including the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. I also went to school learning to program on some of the types of computers displayed here and later worked in software engineering. So I came into the Computer History Museum with a bit of a "seen it, done it, why do it again?" attitude. My husband and I ended up spending five hours here. Does that make us nerds? Probably. One of the highlights for me was the live IBM 1401 demonstration. When we visited, demonstrations were offered Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. and Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. I even got to create my own punch card and have it used during the demonstration. I'd learned about punched cards, but watching cards physically being fed into the IBM 1401 to program the computer was something I had never actually seen before. It made an important piece of computing history suddenly tangible. There are also live demonstrations of the PDP-1 on the first and third Saturdays at 2:30 and 3:15 p.m., and a Spacewar! Tournament every fifth Saturday at noon. You may even get the chance to play Spacewar!, one of the earliest video games. If you can attend a guided tour, I highly recommend it. Rather than simply walking past rows of old machines, the guide helped bring the history alive, including the ENIAC and the enormous changes in computer technology and chips over the decades. There is a replica of a World War II Enigma cipher machine on display, along with early census machines. The collection progresses through vintage computers such as UNIVAC, the IBM System/360, minicomputers and desktop computers, as well as the technology surrounding them: hard drives, mice, printers, computer chips and much more. Eventually, you arrive in the age of artificial intelligence and Ameca, the AI-powered robotic head and shoulders. You're supposed to be able to speak with her using a microphone, although during our visit she didn't seem to be able to hear what anyone was saying into it. There is also a café with coffee, other drinks, and grab-and-go food including sandwiches, hummus and pizza. There is seating both indoors and outside, which made it easy for us to take a break before continuing through the museum. One parking warning: we visited on a Saturday when a Vintage Computer Festival was also taking place. By the time we arrived around 10:40 a.m., the museum parking was full. Parking attendants redirected us to a Microsoft visitor parking lot about 0.45 miles away, and there was no shuttle, so we had to walk between the lot and museum. I expected this to be a relatively quick visit because I had already seen plenty of historic computers over the years. Five hours later, I had created a punch card, watched an IBM 1401 come alive, revisited computers and technology from my own past, and discovered quite a few things I had never seen before. Apparently, even for a couple of computer nerds, there was still plenty left to learn. read more

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I absolutely loved visiting the Computer History Museum! There is so much to offer here for both kids and adults alike. If you have any interest in learning how computers were invented and how they've evolved over the last century, this is the perfect place to explore. It's incredibly well-curated and engaging. A few tips for your visit: Time: Personally, I would recommend setting aside at least 2 hours to fully explore the exhibits and really soak it all in. Food & Drink: They have a wonderful cafe on-site that serves great hot chocolate, coffee, and light snacks--perfect for a quick energy boost mid-tour. Parking: No need to stress about parking. They have a massive lot that looks more than capable of handling even the busiest weekend crowds. Highly recommend checking this place out if you're in the area! read more

Spent a few hours at the Computer History Museum and didn't expect it to feel as reflective as it did. The museum walks you through the evolution of computing, from early mechanical calculators to modern microprocessors, software systems, and AI. You can see machines like ENIAC (one of the first general-purpose electronic computers) along with punch-card systems, the Apple I, and other machines that once felt futuristic and now look dusty and almost fragile. Everything here is built in layers, not in isolation: ideas evolving over time, people contributing in ways that are not always visible at first, yet shaping the outcome. Still, it is striking to see how these machines have become extensions of how we think nowadays (our brains). We offload memory, rely on algorithms to anticipate what we want, and increasingly hide behind screens. We run away from the real world and avoid real human connection. In some ways, it can feel easier to trust systems than real people because systems are predictable, responsive, dopamine-inducing, and do not require human effort or vulnerability. People do. People are messy. Here where the museum unexpectedly becomes even more reflective. It makes you wonder how easily we stay self-contained, avoid the messiness of real connection, and fill the space with endless technological distraction. Roughly 1 in 2 U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness, with in-person social interaction declining over time. Technology makes it easier to stay in your own world, away from uncertainty, risk, and the effort real closeness requires. So where does this lead us? What is our future? Is it for our good? If it feels easier this way, is it actually better? Are we becoming more connected, or just more efficiently alone? P.S. I think the admission for youth should be cheaper. read more

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I went here for the Apple 50th anniversary special, whcih was exceptionally well curated. The depth of the collection was awesome it had everything from the old days to current days. The layout is nice and staff are super friendly. It's worth a visit given the significance of the history. read more

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Great exhibits and a really fun place to explore! The Computer History Museum has an impressive collection covering the evolution of computers and technology, with plenty of interesting displays and artifacts. There's a lot to see, and it's fascinating to realize just how quickly technology has changed over the years. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the Mountain View area! read more

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Woah! Learned so many interesting things in this immersive museum. Text heavy! I feel like I could go back and learn even more.

At a certain level, you might learn more from an issue of National Geographic so maybe I am the wrong demographic for this. I wish they would go into more detail about specialized uses like medicine, not just MRI. I would look at things about the internet and realize that I'm old. It's about design and interface, not about programming. This museum tour seems very much about the historical context of hardware from the 18th century on. read more

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A fantastic journey through the history of computing! So much to explore here and they even offer demonstrations. Always a great time. read more

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To start off, parking was plenty an this an unexpected experience that I ended up being such a core memory catching up with my friend. Jessica is such a helpful gem. I'm probably one of the last people that I thought would ever want to spend a couple hours at this museum, but now I already have plans to swing back around. Was able to score a little deal on groupon with a couple of my friends :) I absolutely highly recommend to start off visiting this place in the morning as there's so much information that I initially thought that a couple hours would suffice, but boy was I completely wrong! read more

This place is underrated. Many locals in the Bay Area don't know this exists! For being in Silicon Valley! What a nice space, starting with the cafe and outdoor grassy seating for you to enjoy a beverage or hangout. The building is big and the flow is set up like IKEA where you start in one side of the maze and you follow along till you get to the end Favorites- -World of Warcraft section! Whoaaa! Including a retired server and signed by employees -video game section including games we grew up with -robot head you can talk to and ask questions and will respond read more

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You can get a Groupon deal. Since we live in Silicon Valley, it's a good to know kind of museum to visit. I do wish it had more hands on exhibits, most you can touch and no flash photography. I recommend going at least once. Lots of interesting displays, videos to see and information to read. read more

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I was in the area for a meeting, and they opted to hold it at the Computer History Museum. Our hosts made sure that we got a tour of the museum with a docent! First and foremost, the docents are amazing, very knowledgeable and engaging. If you get an opportunity, I highly recommend doing a guided tour with them. After you finish the tour, you can still explore other areas that they didn't include in the tour. Stepping into this museum really makes you appreciate how fast technology has changed and adapted. Just looking at items from the 60's and 70's made me feel ancient already. You can easily spend half a day here without worry and still be engaged. Additionally, you could just study here if you wanted, the outside area is really nice and the coffee shop is excellent. read more

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I had a wonderful experience at the museum, all thanks to our docent Jim. He is a retired EE, so knowledgeable about the history and development of information technology. The way he told stories, making boring tech info relevant to everyone, was amazing. If you ever visit the museum, I'd highly recommend a tour with him. I will give it more than five stars. read more

This museum is amazing. Growing up in the Bay Area, I've heard about this museum but had never visited until recently. Wow, all of the information and technology related to computers, this museum did a fantastic job going through the history to education the progression of how computers really got their start to where we are now--that AI chat bot is creepy AF, by the way. I didn't like the fact that a part of this museum Was closed and dedicated to a church. That wasn't cool, but other than that, this museum is pretty awesome for people interested in computers and technology or grew up in the bay. read more

Computer History Museum - Pricing. - Museums Near Me - Mountain View, California

Great museum for anyone interested in tech history. My kids loved playing the old arcade games, and it was interesting for us adults to see early IBM computers, the first Mac, floppy disks, and other tech from the Bill Gates and Steve Jobs era now behind glass. The programming languages exhibit and the AI section were especially interesting. It's a good reminder of how fast technology changes and how much the industry has evolved. Well‑organized, easy to follow, and worth a visit if you're in the Bay Area. read more

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Wow I'm so happy this place exists and preserves technological history! If you're a fan of tech or computers, this is the place for you. They have a historical breakdown of technology as you move room to room. You'll see things like the first computer ever made, this thing is massive it takes up like half the room. The first typewriter and calculator are there too along with other inventions. You'll also see the history of video games, the first Atari and Nintendo, they actually have all the consoles up to PS4. But the star of the show is Ameca, the AI robot you can actually speak to. I stood in line and got a chance to ask her a question. I asked if she can feel music. She said she can't hear music like regular humans, but she can analyze data and vibe to the beat. Overall, such a cool place, definitely check it out with the fam if you're into technology. Oh, and it's inexpensive, and the staff is nice. read more

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I spoke with the coordinator because I was interested in renting the venue for an event. I went to voicemail and left my phone number for the CHM to call me back. They called once while I was busy and they didn't bother to leave a message to let me know they called. I called five minutes later when I noticed I missed their call and they didn't pick up. When the CHM finally called back while I was available, the coordinator didn't introduce herself or state her position, just that I had previously called the CHM and she was returning my call. The coordinator was rude when I asked any question (availability, capacity for venue options, basic pricing info), cut me off constantly, and never sent me the follow up information I requested for more details despite collecting my contact information. Awful service and that's before booking anything concrete. I've never spoken to any venue that was as rude and condescending as this one. read more

CHM (Computer History Museum) is a computer museum in Mountain View, California. It could take you half a day to walk through. It was very impressive and we liked this museum so much! The museum is divided into the Revolution, the Learning Lab, the Software Lab, etc. (Don't miss the IBM lab). It was also a captivating journey through the evolution of computing technology. We liked the Computer Games section, and it shows my favorite childhood games of Pac-Man and Gameboy, etc. We had so much fun, and we explained to our daughters that we used some of the old technology before. It was interesting to see the cassette, floppy disc, laser disc, and those flip phones that we used before. It was worth the visit. Highly recommended! FYI: General Admission: adult 18+ ($19.50 each), student (age 11+) $16.50, Youth 8-10 $6, senior (age 65+) $16.50, child age 0-7 (free) CHM is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MUSEUM HOURS Monday and Tuesday: Closed Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. read more

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Review #1004: Super fun / cool nerd-out spot in the Bay Area. They hosted a Satellite conference and I really thought the informative and interactive content and displays were great. So much to learn about computing and the history of what we've come to take for granted! read more

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. read more

If you're even *remotely* into technology, the **Computer History Museum** is a **must-visit**. It's incredibly **informative**, well laid-out, and packed with **tons of fascinating tech artifacts** that take you through the evolution of computing--from ancient calculators to early Apple prototypes and beyond. The place is **massive**--there's truly a **ton of exhibits** to explore, and each one dives deep without feeling overwhelming. Whether you're a techie, a history buff, or just curious, there's something here that'll grab your attention. You'll walk away with a whole new appreciation for the devices we now take for granted. From codebreaking machines to iconic video game consoles, it's both a nostalgic and educational trip through digital time. **Highly recommend** giving yourself a few hours--you'll need it to take everything in! read more

It's incredible how well preserved and thoughtfully displayed everything is because it really makes the experience much more enjoyable. This museum is great for all ages and gives you a real appreciation for how far technology has come and how fast it's evolved over the years. I loved that some of the items aren't behind glass, so you can get a closer look at the details (but no, you still can't touch them, so be respectful!). Depending on how much time you spend reading the descriptions, expect to be here for about 2-3 hours. The layout can be a little tricky to navigate since the sections aren't clearly divided by walls, but each area walks you through how different items have changed from the past to the present. You'll see everything from rulers and calculators to early computers, keyboards, memory storage, robots, games, and even a section on AI which feels especially relevant today. After visiting, I left feeling so thankful for the technology we have now. It's a good reminder that we sometimes don't realize how lucky we are until we see what people had to work with back then. Adult tickets were only $19.50 each, which is super affordable especially compared to most museums these days charging $40-60. Definitely worth the price! I highly recommend visiting. It's nostalgic, informative, and such a hidden gem in the Bay Area. read more

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We had planned to go to the nearby NASA museum but it was closed. We came here on a whim instead - and it was well worth it. Family members were as young as 12 and as old as 79. Everyone enjoyed it. I was expecting more photos of historical equipment. Instead there were plenty of actual artifacts for recent equipment and scale models of older machines like Babbage engines. Fascinating stuff. Thank you CHM! read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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A mind-boggling array of artifacts! My favorites were a humanoid Ameca robot hooked up to an LLM whom I was able to talk to and a massive showcase of "adding machines" from the 1800s. I also bought an incredible book of photographs ("The Evolution of Silicon Valley") detailing the history of the San Francisco Bay Area from their gift shop. (I am ashamed to say that I know very little about Bay Area history despite having lived here almost all my life.) Two curious omissions - 1. There's very little (nothing?) about the invention of the transistor/Shockley Semiconductor/the Traitorous Eight. You know, the beginning of Silicon Valley. They talk and talk about everything and everyone else (I learned how to use an abacus from a very cool interactive exhibit about ancient "computers") but nothing about Silicon Valley itself. Perhaps it's deliberate to avoid being sued? 2. The exhibit on mobile computing is comically out-of-date and clearly from before smartphones. There's flip phones in the illustrations and oohs and ahhs about the innovation of "texting". Criminally underrated place. If you live in the Bay Area, please visit. Especially if you work in tech. read more

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. read more

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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!!!! read more

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This museum is very bay area. Located right off 101, it is a good location and very interesting. It takes about 2.5-3.5 hours to get through and I was able to get through everything. It was pretty interesting going through the years and good for people of all ages. You can buy cheaper tickets on Groupon if you check before and it was a good value! read more

During my trip to California, I explored a wide range of amazing places: Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz, Sonoma Valley, and Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks. But one highlight stood out above the rest--the Computer History Museum. I was so impressed and fascinated by the exhibits that we actually extended our trip by an extra day just to go back for a second visit. It's a must-see for anyone even remotely interested in technology, innovation, or the history that shaped our digital world. The first exhibit I saw focused on software that changed the world. As soon as I spotted the World of Warcraft server blade, I knew I was in for a treat throughout the rest of the museum. The museum does have a funny way of making you feel your age--especially when you see the vintage gaming consoles you played as a kid now displayed as historical artifacts. If I had any suggestions, they would be to expand the computer music exhibit and possibly more vintage arcade cabinets in the gaming section. read more

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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 $$. read more

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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. read more

A pretty nice museum. The main permanent exhibit is presented chronologically from the earliest mechanical calculators to old mainframes to the computers of today. Stop by at the right time and a volunteer will take you on an hour-long guided tour focusing on quality over quantity; instead of brushing over everything in the main exhibit, they will highlight specific moments in computing history to go into detail and even pass around real artifacts from the early days. They also have two demo rooms. The larger one is the IBM 1401, an old mainframe which operated on punch cards and would be used for batch processing and could print output on green bar paper. You could even type your name on a punch card and the machine would print out a little souvenir for you. The smaller one is the PDP-1, whose main advantage was interactivity. It could play music as well as project graphics on a circular display. I went during the special exhibition of Mac @ 40 (which they hyped up in advertising), but it was a bit underwhelming. The area was very small and didn't have much content. read more

Cool museum about the history of computers and technology. There's some interactive parts which add to the experience. It was neat to see the IBM punch cards (you can make your own!). No pics unfortunately of the food but the cloud bistro cafe deserves a little shout! The employees were really friendly and the food was hot and fresh, with good coffee drinks! The coffee is made with a local coffee company. I was surprised to see them preparing the pizza right then and there (putting the toppings on, etc) as opposed to having premade ready to heat up (or serve cold prepared food you find at museums typically). But this was a great experience! Big portion too!! And so delicious. The website says museum admission is not required, which is pretty nice. Check it out! read more

Computer History Museum - computer - Museums Near Me - Mountain View, California

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. read more

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This place is a hidden gem. I came on a late Sunday afternoon and was expecting crowds, but it was relatively peaceful and quiet here. Maybe people like to come in the morning? There's plenty of parking and I thought I would probably spend maybe 1-2 hours max here, but ended up staying until they closed at 5 pm because I'm a geek. I learned a lot about the history of computers and seeing the evolution of computing, from the ancient days of using slide rules and abacuses, to the rise and fall of pioneering companies like Fairchild Semiconductor. I learned that IBM was a huge manufacturer of punch card machines back then, and got to look at a lot of actual machines that were donated by various companies and donors. Ended the day with a hot coffee at the cafe, since they ran out if ice. I wish that I could've stayed longer to spend more time downstairs in the demo rooms, or to enjoy my coffee in the nicely shaded outdoor area, but I think I will return again. read more

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Always love visiting the Computer History Museum. Our older child always loves the room that showcases the history of different video games. We would love to see an update to some of the more recent developments with technology. Another suggestion is more toddler aged activities that include hands on things or workshops for little ones to get introduced to technology and coding. This place is a great facility and has a wonderful little cafe too. Outside has ample space as well if you want to be able to meet with a group of friends. read more

This museum is a great place to bring kids who like tech. You can geek out for hours with the many displays of computers and gaming tech as it's developed over the years. Staff was helpful and very friendly, and kept very clean. Be advised that the parking has some signage advising you of recent break-ins. That being said, the parking is free and bring valuables with you inside. Overall, we had a great time and no issues with our visit. The cafe inside has no gluten friendly options for food, but you can sip on some of their beverages. read more

Computer History Museum - Main entrance. - Museums Near Me - Mountain View, California

My company recently filmed and provided AV for a client's event at the Computer History Museum. We had to make sure everything went flawlessly and that required substantial coordination and site surveys. CHM's event coordinator Clare took excellent care of us; she was very responsive and proactive with answering our questions and helping us with the myriad of details. Clare sets the standard in customer service. The event did indeed go flawlessly and I can highly recommend Computer History Museum as a venue. read more

We held our company AI-Techsales kick-off at the Computer History Museum. The facility is beautiful and rich in the history of computer technology. However, more than the building the service we received from Kimberly Wheat to plan and execute our event was amazing. She was there every step of the way and stepped in to help when we needed it. Her goal was to make our event was a great experience for our company and guests, and she pulled it off flawlessly. I would highly recommend having your next event at the Computer History Museum read more