Computer History Museum
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Experience Type: family fun, innovation, museum
The Computer History Museum chronicles 2,000 years of computing innovation, from the abacus to artificial intelligence. Interactive exhibits, rare artifacts, and live demonstrations make this a must for anyone curious about how technology evolved and how it continues to shape our world.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- See the IBM 1401 and PDP-1 Demos – Watch these rare, fully restored computers in action and play Spacewar!, one of the world’s first video games.
- Explore “Chatbots Decoded: Exploring AI” – Interact with a chatbot-powered robot while learning about the history and ethics of artificial intelligence in this hands-on exhibit.
- Play Classic Video Games – Enjoy nostalgic fun with arcade legends like Pac-Man and Pong, celebrating how gaming helped bring computers into everyday life.
- Walk Through “Revolution” – Trace 2,000 years of computing history through 1,100 artifacts, from ancient calculating tools to the first Apple and IBM personal computers.
- Tour “Make Software: Change the World!” – Discover how applications like Photoshop, Wikipedia, and World of Warcraft transformed global communication, creativity, and community.
Itinerary Idea: Keep the tech energy high with a self-guided audio tour of Silicon Valley, tapping into the region’s innovation buzz as you cruise past Facebook and Google headquarters.
Photo Credit: Igor Shalyminov/Unsplash