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| A hand crank powers the apparatus, Charles Babbage's Difference Engine No. 2, an early computer that for a century and a half
only existed on paper. Ben arnoldy |
California museums tell the history of computing
Bit by bit, they gather and display gadgets from the computer revolution.
from the May 8, 2008 edition
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Preserving the cutting edge
By contrast, the Computer History Museum, 30 miles north, is a much vaster and more comprehensive collection. Here, a sign reads: "Thank you for not touching the artifacts."
The museum (also free and open most afternoons) has a complex history that began outside Boston in 1979. In 2002, it moved to its new space, the former home of Silicon Graphics – itself an artifact of the computer age.
Curator Alex Bochannek dons white gloves for a tour of the restoration lab, where volunteers have reassembled an IBM 1401 system – one of those early, sprawling series of machines that occupy an entire room.
"Visible Storage," the museum's main exhibit, spreads throughout a cavernous space like a warehouse. It holds more than 600 items – only a portion of the museum's collection. A comprehensive computer timeline is being assembled to be unveiled in 2009. But for now, the Babbage Engine is the museum's star.
"Silicon Valley, and the technology industry, tends to be a community that drives with no rearview mirror," says Nathan Myhrvold, a former CTO of Microsoft who funded the Engine's construction. "As a result it's very rare to see people ... conserve or honor or display old computers."
A Silicon Valley roadtrip
The computer may not seem like the most aesthetic of museum relics. But for technology lovers and neophytes alike, it offers a fascinating and nostalgic window onto contemporary culture. These museums and sites, dedicated to technology in all forms, are within driving distance of each other. Together they’d make for a nice weekend of technology.
The Computer History Museum
Mountain View, Calif.
650-810-1010
computerhistory.org
Microcomputers, supercomputers, and everything in between. The vast and comprehensive collection includes a 600-piece permanent display and rotating special exhibits.
Open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons. Admission is free.
The DigiBarn Computer Museum
In the Santa Cruz Mountains
831-338-2020
digibarn.com
The contents of this private barn track the evolution of the personal computer. With pigs outside and computers inside, the quirky contrast is worth the effort of an appointment and the strikingly winding mountain drive.
Tours are free, but only by appointments made through its website.
The Exploratorium
San Francisco, Calif.
415-563-7337
exploratorium.edu
Hundreds of interactive exhibits blend science, art, and technology. Dedicated to both entertaining and educating visitors, the museum hosts numerous events, including the upcoming CSI: Toys, where kids use forensic science to help solve mysteries.
Open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $14, with special deals for students and children.
The Intel Museum
Santa Clara, Calif.
408-765-0889
intel.com/museum
Nestled in Intel’s headquarters, the museum guides you through the history of the company and computer innovation. Interactive displays highlight the science and labor that go into making PCs.
Monday through Saturday. Admission is free.
The HP Garage
Palo Alto, Calif.
hp.com/go/garage/
Before the printers and the laptops, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard tinkered in a garage behind 367 Addison Avenue. Now a California Historic Landmark, the garage was renovated in 2005 and bears a plaque that declares it “The Birthplace of ‘Silicon Valley.’ ”
Visitors cannot wander the property, but the garage can be seen from the road.
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