Being a pretty big technology geek, I was really excited to come here. I showed up right when they opened and there were already plenty of people in line. The museum itself is big-ish, but smaller than the size of the building would suggest. The exhibits are all on the bottom floor, and the second floor is mostly auditoriums and classrooms for lectures and workshops and stuff. The main exhibit is "Revolution," which is an extensive history of computers, starting from calculators (like abacus kind of stuff) all the way up to self driving cars, supercomputers, and artificial intelligence. There are a lot of excellent donations, like real super computers and chips and all that kind of stuff -- very cool to see! The end of the exhibit, around more modern day, was less exciting for me, but there is still a lot of really cool information. Speaking of which, everything is really well explained, with enough detail to learn something, but enough brevity to prevent you from wanting to read. I wasn't able to stop in the other exhibitions like the self driving car and interactive areas, but I was mostly interested in the history anyway. Overall, the layout was really easy to follow and very informative! The price is good, and if you're a student it's even better ($13.50 I think). Can easily spend 2ish hours here, and I'd recommend giving it a go if you're interested in the history behind the technology that we're all so used to these days! read more

It must be challenging to tell the story of technology and to stand alone in doing so. The CHM does an admirable job it. Each of the twenty galleries that make up revolution have their own curatorial character. The storytelling about mechanical computing includes some precious relics, where the displays of early electronic computers rely on video to a greater degree. It's all quite effective. I had no trouble staying engaged for a half day. The demonstration of Babbage's difference engine #2 was unforgettable. read more

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

Decent museum. Tours and demonstrations led by volunteers are free and interesting. Don't expect to see everything; their collection is enormous. Also, there is a serious petty theft issue in the parking lot, and we noticed men creeping around and looking into windows. read more

I remember back when this was still Silicon Graphics "new" headquarters. How the mighty have fallen. Cut to present day it is the preservation of computing technology. As someone who grew up with a parent that has been in computers longer than i can remember, it was cool to see many things id seen as a child. It turns out an old co worker also volunteered here and got a good tour after our initial walk around. It's fitting that a place like this exists here and it could have been done in a cheesy way but they chose to make it pretty cool read more

I would agree with other reviews that if you're not interested in computers, you might not like this museum. To me, this museum was interesting for a slow Sunday but I would not seek it out (I'm majoring in electrical engineering and computer science for reference). The lessons on how to use a slide rule and an abacus were fun because I've always wanted to know how since my dad grew up using slide rules and my mom used abacuses. There are some interesting displays on keyboards throughout the years, and I also really enjoyed the sections on AI and robots, plus the interactive punch card machines in the back of the museum. Be sure to check out the self-driving car in the back too. We joined the docent-led tour that started in the lobby but slipped out halfway through. It was fairly interesting! But just a little slow for our taste. All the staff were really friendly and enthusiastic about what the museum had to offer and we definitely appreciated that. Btw, if you're a Bank of America customer you get in free on the first Sunday of the month! Also $3 off with a student ID. Free parking + many many stations to charge up your Tesla. #SiliconValley :p read more

They have almost everything going back to the first mechanical computer. I would highly recommend this place

We went here for the first time on Sat 11/1/08 on a rainy day. It was nice to spend a few hours in here. Things to do at the Computer History Museum: get FREE ticket to PDP-1 Demo at front desk. 1. Do the Highlights tour of visible storage. We had Jim Manley, Sr. docent and he was very knowledgeable about the 8 different items he talked about. It was more interesting on the tour, then when we just walked around by ourselves earlier. The tour was longer than the 30 min that was stated, because he had lots of info to share. 2. Next see the Babbage demo. Charles Babbage Difference Engine #2 designed in the 19th century it's only 1 of 2 ever built. It's hand-cranked and really works to get the right numbers. It got stuck a few times when we saw the 2nd demo - oh well. Still very cool. I liked the back side better with the cool designs. 3rd thing to see: PDP-1 Demo. It's really, really, old computers. Two guys worked on it at MIT and now they are retired and back to show it at this museum. They switched it on, Peter (can't remember the last name) programmed it to play classical music, the other guy made a program like a space game. Very cool. Supposedly you need a free ticket (get at main desk at front) to see it since the room is small, though they didn't collect our tickets. There's a small Museum Store. Had books, mugs, postcards, caps, shirts, some toys, etc. Recommended if for everyone to visit, best that it's FREE. Hrs: W, Th, Fri, Sun 12-4 Sat 11a-5 Closed Mon & Tues. read more

The museum was much smaller than I expected. The layout was supposed to be in chronological order but I found it a little messy since there were not enough arrows/ directions to point us on which way to follow so we ended up skipping ahead in some zones. I did learn some interesting things about computer history, but it can get a little boring after a while, especially if you're not so much a nerd. Nonetheless, I can see how people will enjoy this museum, but I guess once is enough for me :/ read more

A geeks paradise, this place certainly lives up to its name. Covering the history of computing back to the abacus, the exhibits are well done, easy to follow, and mostly interesting. The docent led experience was rather dull in my opinion, so unless you really have a desire to stand around and listen to more detail then your typical sign, I would say skip that and walk around on your own. Don't miss the Babbage Engine demonstration however, because even though it broke down while I was watching, it was still neat for the 40 seconds it was going. A sight to behold for sure. Over all if you like computers, this is your mecca. read more

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Really cool place to visit for a few hours. Also found out that the 1st weekend of month you can get in for free if you show your ID and Bank of America card. Really good place to visit. We only had 2 hours before closing and didn't get to fully see everything but we'll be back! Lots of really interesting tidbits on the evolution of the computer and a lot more. How these technologies have changed healthcare, the workforce, the cars we drive. We really enjoyed getting our learning on!! read more

I would like to start off by saying the the staff at the Computer History Museum is grade A. Not only are they super helpful for people just wanting information, but even as someone who got a Groupon to go, they staff knew what to do, and were super kind about everything. If you've ever purchased a Groupon, you might notice that some people are less than happy that you're not spending the full price to be there, but I didn't have any of those feelings whenI went. We went at a prime time because we got to meet up with some workers of IBM and check out some of the first computers, which was a real treat. There was also a tour going on to take groups of people through the entire museum, and answer questions and offer context. We preferred to avoid that part and peruse on our own. It took us 3 hours to get through most of the museum. I say "most" because we only went in to see the IBM guys, and walk around the main portion of the museum. We didn't actually make it all the way. There are some really cool features. There's a self-driving car, there's a "game room" with older games that you can actually play. There is even a booth you can go to and take a photograph in front of a green screen and photoshop a background and a celeb to it! I'm sure that part was meant for children, but it was so exciting!! I will probably be back just to see if I can make it through the rest of the museum! But back to the staff, I watched one of the employees converse with a large group of children, and it was literally magical to watch. They were patient, they were able to get the kids excited about exploring the museum, but they weren't so excited that they were rowdy! I've seen teachers struggle with groups of children more than they did! I really enjoy that they had the chance to learn all the things I did! This place is awesome! read more

Being a geek for all my life, this place hit me hard. I saw a lot of tech from my childhood, my career, and my own research into Computer History. There is a lot to parse here and can take quite some time for anyone to get through but it's done in a very elegant fashion. Going into the IBM mainframe exhibit was like walking back in time to my first stroll into a mainframe room when I was a kid. I highly recommend everyone should come see this place. Just to get a sense of where we've been and where we could go. read more

My wify is a closet geek and loves techno gadgets. So one lazy Sunday, I surprised her with a visit to the 'Computer History Museum' in Mountain View, CA (Silicon Valley). It was my second time so I wanted to show her a few specific finds but for the most part she disappeared on her own to explore uninterrupted. It is a relatively new and small museum considering what normal museums amass. Given its focus on computers, it really highlights the last 4 or so decades of computer evolution. So anyone over 35, will feel a bit nostalgic because a lot of what you will see was in some way part of your upbringing. Just phases like 'Way back in 2000...' gave me a chuckle.....it's more like 'history in the making' museum. The museum itself is quite compact but is well organized, outlining the different areas and walkways. There are two guided tours @ 12:00 & 2 pm if interested. The first 19 galleries showcase 2000 years of Computer revolution. Gallery 1 starts with 'Calculators' and takes us back several centuries to early 'Abacuses' from different parts of the world. Some of the other galleries exhibit 'Punched Cards', 'Analog', 'Memory & Storage', 'Minicomputers', 'AI', 'Games' and much more. There are a lot of intriguing items to see like the very first computer that needed a decent size room to fit one IBM 7090 from 1959. The ENIAC model needed a 30x50 Room, people literally worked inside the computer. They also have the very first google server from 1999. It's hard to write it all but I want to pass on the excitement to you so u can visit with family & friends. I think it will be super engaging for kids and young adults as they will realize computer history is not from such a distant past. The 20th gallery is the 'What's Next' exhibit. When we went, the main exhibit was Google's self driving car. I imagine, this interactive section will keep us coming back to see, touch & play with the latest future technos. There is a gift shop with standard souvenir offerings but I was disappointed with the options...not many exciting, unique or creative items to grab. They also have a cafe, 'Cloud Bistro', which I was eager to check out but my wify was missing until they literally closed the museum and booted her out. Lesson being, if u come with a nerd, get to the bistro first or u may not be able to pry them off the exhibits in time to chill in the café! Overall, it was a fun Sunday. #airwolf read more

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The stop we made here was the entire reason for riding the 475 miles up from San Diego, and it was worth it. I really liked the museum but there is just so much that you really get sort of overloaded with information. Also I seriously underestimated the amount of time that we could spend in there! For us I would need 4-6 hours to really have the time to appreciate all the items in here. It does make me feel old seeing things in a museum that I once worked on in day to day life as a profession. We got a 2 for 1 admission groupon and it would have totally been worth it even without it. I highly recommend this place for anyone that's in IT or planning on going into IT work. I personally see immense value here. I just wish they had a section about BBSs and the FIDO net and a few other things that I thought were missing. If they are present I missed them as we started hurrying due to time constraints. Would love to go back again and pick up where we started hurrying through the exhibits. read more

Top of the line new Revolution exhibit. You can spend days, and I do mean days, in here. They have something for everyone. Like to learn by watching video? They have it. Like to learn the tradition museum way with the plaques? They have it. Like hands-on learning? It's here. Great for the whole family. My boyfriend is the one who likes tech stuff, but I liked the stories about the scientists and inventors. You get to know who they were as people, and I found it fascinating. read more

It is so cool to learn computer history. It reminded me of the days I used to play games with old computer. Also I enjoyed history of video games and cell phone. I am proud of Japanese technology. Con: a bit expensive and if you are not an engineer, it could be boring. read more

I'd been wanting to come here for awhile, so finally my BF and I made it. This museum is AMAZING. It's huge, first of all, and has every bit of computer history (except porn and pizza - sad face). The docents and staff are so friendly and helpful. We wandered around for hours, and every time we thought we were done, we found another room. I loved the exhibit where you could take a computer apart. It was fun to see the evolution of tech, and I even got a souvenir punchcard. Highly recommend for any tech geeks who are as fascinated as I am by computer history. I want to go again, as we were getting tired by the end. read more

It's great to go to a museum that's so relevant to our lives. I learned so much, about the history of the things that modernized our current world and also saw a higher view of the things I lived through. The museum information balances the positives and negatives of advancements in technology. There's also fun interactive bits for kids and anyone really. read more

I'm a CS major so it's my area of interest, but I am kind of also a bit too familiar with everything. The self driving car exhibit is great but most of the museum is dedicated to older technologies. It's well-organized with cool artifacts, pictures, and videos. The problem is that it feels like a very old school museum. With iPad apps, they could have some really immersive historical programming games and challenges. They should have local iPad programming challenges to create educational games for the exhibits. This place has the potential to be awesome, but in it's current state, it's just above average for a museum. read more

The Computer History Museum was excellent; the docent was not. The docent loves movies so he imposed on us his excitement about how computers were portrayed in movies. That is NOT why we came here. We wanted to learn about the history of computers. The museum ought to do one of two things: 1) Either educate this docent (Joe?), or assign him to some other task. Except for the movie docent, the quality of the museum's history of computers and calculators was excellent. The museum taught us about women in the history of computers and calculators that I did not know. I liked the offerings of very interesting books in the book shop that had information that I did not know so I bought two books on the history of women and computers. The museum is clean and well laid-out. The lunch at the museum was awful. Yuk. I do not recommend it. There is pleasant outdoor seating if you bring your own lunch or just want to rest. read more

Fabulous computer museum. Very good floor plan and organization Fabulous examples of past computer machines, storage and software. You need at least 2 hours. Small cafe. A must if you are interested in computer history read more

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

This place is just fun to go thru. Blast back to the past. Just 20years ago and we've made such stride. Crazy... read more

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I had high hopes for this but unfortunately there's just too much information and it lacks a storyline. I'm comparing it to the other museums Ive been to - like the 9/11 museum in NY, the WW2 museum in New Orleans. But its in a nice building - with a coffee shop and a souvenir shop inside. You can easily spend 2-4 hours here. I spent about 1.5 hrs and it was exhausting. read more

If you live in the bay area and want a couple of hours to nerd out on Silicon Valley history- the Computer History Museum is the place to go. We spent most of our time going through Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing- the 25,000 sq.ft exhibition featuring 19 engaging galleries to walk through. We were able to experience one-of-a-kind devices and read through so many interesting facts about how computers came to be. There were also volunteers who were happy to give tours and help with any of your questions! read more

Nice and organized museum that will take about 2-3 hours max to go through. Exhibits Orientation Theater- to get you excited for the museum Revolution- longest exhibit showing the history of computing. There is some pretty cool stuff from WWII. Thinking Big: Ada, Countess of Lovelace- small "exhibit" in the front. It's really just a few walls of content. DEC PDP-1 Lab- interactive demo that occurs only twice a month, get there early to get a spot, otherwise you won't be able to see anything IBM 1401 Demo Lab- create your own punch card and experience what it would have been like to be working in one of these rooms with giant computers Where To? A History of Autonomous Vehicles- Google self-driving car on display. Exhibit was interesting, but the car was anti-climatic. Services Free phone chargers - need to download an app to use it Wifi Tours and demos Plenty of free parking Admission General: $15 Senior/Student/Active Military: $12 Children 12 and under: Free Deals There are often half off admission deals on deal sites, and they will still honor your ticket regardless of expiration. read more

This review is for party at the Computer History Museum. It's very disorganize, the servers and workers have no idea where things are at. Dessert suppose to come out at 9pm, and 15min after still nothing. The layout of the space is broken up and not connected. It's not good for large party. read more

You start off strong at this place with a lot of interesting stuff to see and read about as you go thru computer history. It took us about 2 hours to get thru all of the areas. They are missing at least the last 10 years of history. We ended with a visit to the gift shop which was disappointing due to the selection of products available (nothing that really stood out). Not a bad place to visit, I just guess we had very high expectations. Its a one time visit. read more

This is one of the best places to hold events because it's the computer history museum. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley where tech has given birth to various companies here, it's a great venue for learning and networking. Plus, there is a great souvenir shop to remind you of the toys you can bring home and play with your families and friends. read more

Rather than reviewing the event attended [http://www.yelp.com/biz/yelp-summer-bash-elite-event-computer-history-museum---08-6-08-mountain-view], I'd very much rather review the museum as it was not only the perfect venue for a gathering to celebrate my love of all things geeky, but it has inspired a change in my life. From this point forward, I have added a new requirement for future boyfriend[s]: Must be able to appreciate the Computer History Museum. Take note! The lower level features an awesome room called "Visible Storage," where you'll find unique artifacts, from mechanical calculators and old school keyboards to the vintage PCs, historical firsts and exotic supercomputers. One of the docents pointed out the Honeywell 316 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_Computer], a $10K computer to assist housewives of the late 60s in the kitchen, assuming that they took a course to read binary. Very amusing. This room is also where you will find the PDP-1 [Programmed Data Processor-1] Restoration Project. More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDP-1. Got to meet Peter Samson [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Samson] too - nifty! I didn't look closely at everything. I must return. Most likely, a weekend since their hours during the weekdays aren't very long. There is a lot to see and the hour or so spent looking around was not enough. The next time, I will definitely take a docent-led tour. Lots of nifty info for a computer geek and non-geeks [me!] alike! Best of all, it's FREE! *shock* [Donations welcome, of course! I became a member.] read more

If only the US robot were as cool as the one from Japan... The Japan twins reminded me of Wall-e and R2D2. Sigh...I digress. Where else can I visit to take a step back in time to see history on the industry that has revolutionized us ALL? The Computer History Museum completely ROCKS! Ranging from old school calculators, big massive computers, and the first APPLE PC, this place is worth your time...and heck...even a donation! Volunteers are knowledgeable, and staff is always friendly. Love the outdoor area, and ease of parking. Bring out the inner geek in you...visit this museum....seriously. read more

this place is sooooo awesome!!!!!! it's enough to drive a geek girl crazy! I was lucky to find myself there on May 10th, for the lecture/unveiling of the Babbage Difference Engine No. 2. Babbage brought to life for the first(?) time. i love this stuff! i highly encourage everyone to go, even if you aren't old enough to remember atari or realize the significance of punch card machines. very knowledgeable docents and curators. check out the website for events! and can we say "free?" how effing awesome is "free?" THIS awesome. read more

The Computer History Museum is an amazing historical journey told though the engineered relics left in the wake of technological advances over time. If you ever cracked open a computer case in your life, this place should be on your must see list. It will take a good two hours to go through the visible storage room... "the digital graveyard". The Babbage Difference Engine No. 2, which is what you see as you walk in the doors off to the right, is an amazing piece of mechanical engineering. They also have an exhibit entitled "Innovation in the Valley" which highlights some of the pioneers of hardware, software, and computer language which were specific to Silicon Valley. Fun for the kids comes in the form of "Mastering the Game" of chess with a computer and a motion sensitive movie mini theater called " The Silicon Engine" Free admission and easy parking. read more

Geek History Heaven and a Trip Down Work Memory Lane A visit to the computer history museum was personally special for me as the building it's housed in used to be Silicon Graphics old building #20 where I worked for like five years. So much of the building is exactly the same, from the lobby to the chairs and break room area to the purple cubicle walls they use to display a lot of the computer collection here. Sigh. . .what great memories. Staff was very informative and really knows their stuff, ask questions and you can really get a lot of information about the pieces you are looking at. Loved seeing the Little Professor Calculator (I had one of those!) and the first supercomputer CRAY-1. I would recommend this place to bring your relatives from Maine, it's much cooler than just fisherman's wharf. As the museum is growing, it's currently Free so stop by check out the super cool geek history and leave a donation cause it's a hidden gem worth supporting. read more

Loved this place. Just for its content and the Babbage Machine which may not be there anymore. It is a newer museum but it is a great start on a collection of machines that track our young history in the computer age. What better place than in Silicon Valley? It is a totally Geek place. Geek history. Young children under 6 will be bored. Geek teens interested. Gen X enthralled. Boomers appalled... or not! Make a trip to the Bayshore Park just 5 minute drive north from there and get a canoe or paddle boat or sail board if you dare. Eat lunch 10 minutes to Castro street in Mountain View, though the cafe food at bayshore is OK but the view is wonderful. There is an historic house there where you can read its history and look in its windoww - maybe it is open sometime? If you want to see a cool dog park it is just to right before the entrance to Bayshore. People there do not mind if you stand at the fence and enjoy watching their doggies play. There is a kite park to the right after the entrance. That will make for a nice day. Easy parking all the way. I definitely want to go back. And I am only part Geek. read more

I took my 12 year old son he loved it. I wish we had more time to spend you could spend all day here there is a lot to see read more

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

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This was OKAY. Honestly, the best part about this entire museum is the adorable old man that demonstrates the Babbage engine. OMG, can I please have him? I mean, there were a decent array of exhibits, and I enjoyed checking out the early 80's Macs but, something was missing. Oh, right, it was a little boring. Maybe it needed more interactive exhibits? I think it would be sensible in a computer museum. Something to lure and excite us non-hardcore computer nerds. read more

I'm a geek. I liked this place... I visited this place in 2004 for our company Christmas party. We're a tech company so the venue fit. As the saying goes, "If the shoe fits, wear it..." I''m looking forward to another good time for the 1st Annual Yelp Summer Bash (see: http://www.yelp.com/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yelp.com%2Fevents%2Fmountain-view-silicon-valley-yelp-computer-love-summer-bash ) . look for an updated review... Elites are treated to Whiskey Tasting! Yay! read more

Before deciding to visit this museum, rank yourself on a scale of geekdom from 1 to 10. If your initial reaction is, "Do you mean binary or base-10?" then this is the place for you. As a museum, it's still evolving and that's somewhat fascinating in and of itself. Thanks to the fall of SGI as a computing superpower, the non-profit that operates the Computer History Museum was able to purchase a beautiful building that SGI used exclusively for wooing clients (ah, to be in 1997 again...). Needless to say, once SGI no longer had anything meaningful to sell to clients, they ditched the smoke and mirrors, and the Computer History Museum and the rest of us in the Bay Area can reap the benefits. As far as I can tell, they kept everything in the building including the color scheme. It's surely no accident that the museum seems to be built around the color purple, and even the "visible storage" exhibit is built using old cubicle walls. That's the kind of DIY spirit that I'm proud to say still seems to be around today, and is especially evident in the exhibits at the museum. They have a couple of bona-fide exhibits, which they're testing the waters on; but the real meat is the "visible storage" a.k.a. "the coolest garage ever". It's loosely organized chronologically and by topic, and has actual specimens from the history of computing from the 1600s to today (go abacus!). If you're a techie you'll no doubt be at once astounded and dismayed that several things you have boxed up in your closet are on display as part of the "history of computing". Atari 800 anyone? Wow, I'm old. But not as old as some of the computers on display. For certain the best parts of the museum are the ginormous 50's and 60's era computers that are about 1000 times the size of my Palm pilot but had probably 1000'th the computing power. When you see the care that was put into a lot of the older machines' design you soon realize that Steve Jobs was not the first to marry form with function. Be sure to see the "Johnniac", which is part computer, part 60's art-deco piece, and the old military defense computer that's fitted with a cigarette lighter and ashtray built into the console. Word of caution - leave the computer-phobes at home and geek out on your own. I easily, easily, easily spent the full 3 hours that they were open on a Sunday looking at everything. They have a few impromptu tours that just go through and give back-story to the equipment in the big "visible storage" center, and then there's currently an exhibit on computer chess, bay area innovations, and the gigantic room of historical stuff to dive into. The museum and its collection are at one time amusing, sobering and inspiring. read more

The bf had been dying to visit this place, and we finally got the chance to. There was a 2 for 1 admissions coupon on groupon. The museum was a lot bigger than I had expected. When you walk in, they give you this little red Computer History Museum pin to wear while you're in the museum. You also get a visitor guide with a map. I suggest you pay attention to the map because you'll want to make sure you're going through the REvolution exhibits in the right order. Cool Things to Check Out: Google Maps Area. They have the Google Car & Bike there to try out! Babbage Demo. The Evolution of Data Storage History of Video Gaming Area Watson TV Set The History of the Internet Their Cafe and Gift shop are also a must. The overall museum contains a lot of history about where we have started from in the computing industry. It was amazing to see how things have changed in the past decades. A lot of nostalgia when you get to things you remembered when you were a child, to where we are now with technology. I just wish there were a bit more hands on exhibits. They do have little areas with benches and padded 'lean' areas which you can lean/sit on when watching a video or waiting for someone. A total must see if you're into technology. read more

This museum is a must see if you are into technology or computer. Even if you are not, it is still worth visiting at least once. I had a very interesting experience here. Our company held annual event at the museum. Me and date were there early and after a couple of drinks we decided to go for a walk and check out all those exhibits. We ran into the curator of the museum. He was such a charming guy and was so enthusiastic to give us a private tour of the museum. We chatted for almost 3 hours. Time flies when you are having a good time. At the end, I missed the ENTIRE company party. I didn't get to socialize with any of my coworkers or sample any of the food. Oh well.... Could you imagine what the world would be like if the transistor that store just 1 bit is as big as a queen size bed? After that tour I really appreciate how much the technology had advanced. I even feel like I really contributed to the world as an engineer. It makes me really proud of what I do. =) read more