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Museums You Should Visit

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If you know of other museums that are not mentioned here please tell us

What museums are listed? Museums open to the public, even if it is only by appointment

this page will be updated whenever new information becomes available, help us to serve you better

ATT canter, New York, US

editors last visit Mar 1996

USA Not a very large museum but the exhibition is very professional and contains a lot of video material to watch. At the exposition there is even a gigantic talking robot. Nice gadget.

Bradbury Science Museum

 

USA Mailstop C330
Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA
(John Rhodes)
TEL: 505/667-4444

Bletchley Park

editors last visit May 2002

UK Bletchley Park, Bletchley, UK

The museum is housed in a historic building in Bletchley park. Here the Colossus and the famous Bombs have been constructed during WW II.

A reconstruction of the colossus is completed by a group of volunteers. They are currently involved in reconstructing "the Bomb". Also enigma's are on display that were used by the Germans to code their messages. Which code was cracked by the Colossus and the Bombs.

The museum is opened every day at 14:00 for special tours and in the weekends from 10:00-16:00, please refer to their site for the exact opening hours

Commercial Computing Museum Project

Not visited by the HoCF

USA (Kevin Stumpf)
TEL:519/744-2900
stumpf@waterloo.hp.com
Computermuseum NL

Computermuseum

Binckhorstlaan 521
Den Haag
The Netherlands

The museum depot is open to the public every third Sunday afternoon of the month you'll get a tour and coffee. The museum shop has one item worth of buying: a CD ROM with the entire history of computing

The museum is in close collaboration with the History of Computing Foundation

See for information: www.computermuseum.nl

contact and other information: info@computermuseum.nl

how to get there

Computer Museum of America

Not visited by the HoCF

USA Coleman College
7380 Parkway Drive
La Mesa, CA
TEL: 619/465-8226

Computer History Museum

editors last visit Jan 8 2004

 

The Computer History Museum inherited the entire collection from The Computer Museum in Boston, which has merged with the Learning Center.

This is definitely the largest computer museum on earth! They have all the originals from (pieces of) the ENIAC to the Apple I. The exhibition is a true travel through time. Supporting this organization is a must! See below for opening times.

At our visit we (our president and editor in chief) were warmly welcomed by John Tool (COE) en Karen Tucker (PR) talking to them was a pleasure and a learning experience. After that we got a very lively and animated tour. Thank you John and Karen for your warm reception.

Info@computerhistory.org

The Computer Museum History Center

Computer History Museum
1401 N Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA 94043

The Computer History Museum's Visible Storage exhibit area is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays with free tours starting at 1:00 and 2:30 p.m. A donation is suggested (avg. 10USD)
Special tour times are also available by request.

how to get there

Public Tours
email: Tour Reservation Staff
+1 650 810 1013

Media Tours
email: Catriona Harris
+1 650 810 1036



Cray Museum

Not visited by the HoCF

USA (internal)

Deutsches Museum

editors last visit July 2003

 

 

GE

Deutsches Museum
Museumsinsel 1
D-80538 München
Germany

how to get there

Telefon: ++49 / (0)89 / 2179-1
Telefax: ++49 / (0)89 / 2179-324
Internet: http://www.deutsches-museum.de

The museum, library and "Flugwerft Schleißheim" are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

Opening hours in the evening:
Wednesday evenings the Deutsches Museum opens certain exhibitions until 8 PM We offer special programs such as guided tours, concerts, etc.

Postfach 26 01 02
8000 Munchen 26
FAX: 089/217 93 24

Digital Equipment Museum

Not visited by the HoCF

USA Burlington MA 01803
(Jamie Parker Pearson)

Hagley Museum and library

Not visited by the HoCF

USA P.O. Box 3630
Wilmington, DE 19807
TEL: 302/658-2400

Harvard University Archives

Not visited by the HoCF

USA Pusey library
Cambridge, MA 02138
TEL: 617/495-2461

Heinz Nixdorf Museum

editors last visit April 2000

GE

One of the finest and modern computer museums in this field. We think it is the only one in Europe that is specialized on computing. (see also Deutsches Museum Munich / Berlin and Science Museum London)

Possesses some fine 17/18th reconstructions of calculating devices. Some well preserved artifacts from the 1960/70's computer era.

If you are in Paderborn, Germany don't miss this one. Just follow the " HNF forum" shields to get there

This museum also hosts the biannual international conference on the history of computing

Intel Museum

Not visited by the HoCF

USA

Intel museum

From the lobby of the stark blue-and-white Robert Noyce Building, you walk up a ramp onto the raised floor of a large, dimly lit room. Spotlights focus your attention on the exhibits.

As at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, most of the displays are technology tutorials for the layman. The visitor learns enough about the design, fabrication and function of semiconductors to appreciate that the microprocessor is the most complex manufactured product on earth.

Of most interest to history buffs is a wall devoted to the evolution of microprocessors at Intel, from the first 4-bit chip of 1971 to today's multimillion-transistor Pentium devices. Anecdotes and photos of the engineers, silicon wafers etched with patterns as intricate as a street map of New York, and examples of applications in everyday products animate otherwise lifeless blocks of wire and plastic. (review by David A. Laws)(2)

 

2200 Mission College Boulevard
Santa Clara, California
95052-8119

open : Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
contact : (408) 765-0503

www.intel.com/go/museum.

how to get there

La Vilette

editors last visit Jan 2002

FR Parque La Vilette, Paris, France

Science and Technique, a very large modern museum. Targeted especially to the educational elements in technology. There is tons of interactive material.

There is now a special section on informatics on the second floor (level 1) Well done. The video material on display is a must see! In some cases is a little shield referring to : www.mo5.com should be done more with this link.

metro: Porte la vilette line 7

It only is a pity that much of the interactive stuff is broken or out of service when the tourist season is over

Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

Not visited by the HoCF

UK Manchester Museum of Science and Industry , Liverpool Road, Castlefield , Manchester M3 4JP, UK,  +44 61 832 2244
Open every day 1000-1700

Curator of Science: Dr Jenny Wetton

Based on site of the world's first railway station, and has an extensive collection of early steam-power plant. Computer collection includes a Ferranti Pegasus and Hartree's mechanical differential analyzer, and some other Manchester University derived exhibits.

(Information provided by Chris P. Burton, 1994-02-20)

Microsoft Museum

Not visited by the HoCF

USA (internal)
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
(Kass Smith)
TEL:206/936-8824

Minnesota Historical Society

Not visited by the HoCF

USA Minnesota History Center
345 Kellogg Boulevard W.
St. Paul, MN 55102-1906 USA
(Marcia Anderson)
TEL: 612/296-0150
Minotaurz computermuseum USA

The museum is in Los Angeles and visitors can contact p_reale@minotaurz.com by e mail at least 24 hrs. prior to visiting.

contact curator on 818-884-1306 for an appointment

MIT Museum

Not visited by the HoCF

USA 265 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
TEL: 617/253-4444

Musee National des Techniques

editors last visit Jan 2002

FR

Musee National Des Techniques , Conservatoire National Des Arts et Metiers , 292 rue Saint Martin, 75003 Paris, France

Subway station: Arts-et -Metiers

A completely renovated museum showing many artifacts from the 19th century. Calculators from original French origin are displayed. Definitely worth a visit. The collection contains four original Pascal machines, an IBM Stretch (one of the 16 ever made), and the Couffignal machine.

The guided tours are not what it sounds like, a haphazardly event and unclear where and when it starts though. In the French language.

The building alone is beautiful enough to pay a visit. It has been one of the most remarkable renovations I ever saw done. What a difference with ten years ago. My fear is will they follow the Centre Pompidou and leave maintenance aside?

(Information provided by Laurent Bloch / Cornelis Robat)

Museum of American Heritage

not visited by the HoCF

 

Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto

Hours: 11 am to 4 PM, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Admission: Free

How to get there: take the 101 south from San Francisco, exit at Palo Alto

Located in the historic Williams House and Gardens near downtown Palo Alto
351 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto, California
650-321-1004 Fax: 650-473-6950

E-mail: mail@moah.org

Muzeum Tecniki Warszawa

editors last visit Apr 2002

PL

Technik Museum, housed in the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, you can not miss the building in the center of the city. Open 7 days per week. Different tickets apply, cheapest on Monday

There is a unique collection on the second floor of Polish build machines, if you understand Polish ask the wardens for info they are very eager to explain anything to you. Taking pictures is no problem.
The rest of the museum is interesting too! They have a large collection of household appliances from the 50's and on.

Museum fuer Verkehr und Technik

Not visited by the HoCF

GE Museum fuer Verkehr und Technik Berlin, Germany

General museum of traffic and technology. A small area is dedicated to computing. The collection contains also a replica of the Z-1, re-engineered with the help of Konrad Zuse. There is also a Z-1 simulator that runs on a PC (on-line documentation in German).

Museum XX'th century

editors last visit Mar 1999

NL Het museum van de XX eeuw, Hoorn, NL
In cooperation with the Stichting het Computermuseum. A small exhibition is on display.

National Archive of the History of Computing

Not visited by the HoCF

UK National Archive of the History of Computing , Mathematics Tower , University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom,
Telephone: +44 61 275 5845

Mostly documents relating to the computer industry, predominately in the UK, but also document collections of pioneers who may have had an international interest. ICL photograph collection.

(Information provided by Chris P. Burton, 1994-02-20)

Persondatorns fudelse

Not visited by the HoCF

SE

Hakenes gord, Stenungsund
Exhibition, opened in 1993, on the evolution of personal computers from 1975 and onwards, provided by software manufacturer Hogia AB. Nearly 100 personal computers of different kinds and brands are put on (a crowded) display, though only a few operating.
Collection includes Altair 8800, IMSAI 8080, Commodore PET 2001, VIC-20 and VIC-64, Sinclair ZX, TRS-80, Sord, Superbrain, Osborne I, Apple II, Apple Lisa, Luxor ABC 80 and ABC 800, IBM PC, DEC Rainbow and a number of CP/M machines.

Opening hours until 28 January 1994 are Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm, and from 1 February until summer of 1994, Tuesday and Thursday 11am to 3pm. Schools, conferences and other groups may book tours any day.

Science and Technology Museum

Not visited by the HoCF

USA

(located close to the university in southern Chicago)

Important faculty of computing that is sponsored by IBM, and therefor a lot about the history of IBM. And why not!

Science Museum

editors last visit May 2002

UK the Science Museum, London, UK , Exhibition Road , London SW7 2DD, UK
+44 71 938 8000
Open Sunday 1100-1800, Monday-Saturday 1000-1800
The museum is free, as all other museums are in London.

Scientists from the museum have reconstructed Babbage's difference engine. One can admire the contraption live in this museum. In the room where a permanent exhibition can been seen a lot of documentation is displayed on the walls. It is a pity that no printed material is available.

The rest of the exhibition needs a bit of revitalizing, it looks like an exhibition not overhauled for the past 20 years.
There is hardly any audio visual material. There are a few objects to play with but hardly up to par with other museums.
Machines are not put in a chronological order like at the Smithsonian. But the museum is nevertheless more than worth a visit.


Curator of Computing: Doron Swade, +44 71 938 8106
The collection contains an Elliott 401, Ferranti Pegasus, Elliott 803 Stantec Zebra (?), Pilot ACE, and a lot of material of a later date like Cray.
The museum printed a booklet on the live and machines of Babbage's (see bibliography) available in the museum shop. Tickets 4 pounds.

(Information provided by Chris P. Burton / Cornelis Robat)

Smithsonian Museum of American History

editors last visit Aug 1996

USA

Smithsonian Museum of American History, Washington DC, USA
14th St. and Constitution Ave. ; Washington, D.C. 20560 ; TEL: 202/357-1593


Museum of American History  - the information age

A lot of interactive expositions. This is an exhibition that is a must for all to see. Especially appealing to those who are not computer enthusiasts. Very professional and easy accessible for wheel chairs.
The collection contains:

- a part of the ENIAC (the other part is in Philadelphia),

- an Enigma,

- a Bomb (de code-break machine and predecessor of the Colossus),

- an IAS,

- an Apple I (in wood!),

- an Altair,

- a Stretch,

and many other machines, movies etc.

(Information provided by Stephane Bortzmeyer / Cornelis Robat)

Technical Museum Delft

Not visited by the HoCF

NL Technical Museum Delft, Holland

Here are the remnants of the post war computers in the Netherlands

Tekniska museet

Not visited by the HoCF

SE Tekniska museet Stockholm , Sweden

General museum on technology. Small section devoted to computers, primarily items from Swedish computer history. Collection includes the operator's console of BESK (the rest of the machine was scrapped before anybody thought of sending it to a museum), its successor TRASK (apparently complete, but not running due to broken parts), one DATASAAB D21 (?) system and a few old micros (ABC 80, Compis).

The American Computer Museum,

 

Not visited by the HoCF

USA

234 East Babcock Street ; Bozeman, Montana 59771, USA; (406) 587-7545 fax (406) 587-9620

Our displays are designed to appeal from the beginner through the expert in computing. All visitors have an opportunity to view in our theater a video introducing the museum and its collections. All visitors are given an option to join regularly scheduled tours conducted by knowledgeable and friendly tour guides. We have literally hosted visitors from 3 to 93 years of age - it is an ideal family destination.

Probably the biggest surprise that visitors have expressed is the unexpectedly comprehensive assortment of antique office appliance such as typewriters, arithmometers, adding machines, furniture, electric fans, staplers, pencil sharpeners, etc. that await them - not to mention hundreds of slide rules, dozens of mainframe computers and peripherals and scores of personal computers - all presented in a timeline fashion. Over 1,000 artifacts are on display in a 6,000 square foot area.

The hands-on area allows the visitors to interact with antique office equipment such as  typewriters, a telegraph, mechanical calculators, slide rules, etc.... Young people especially appreciate the opportunity to try for themselves these early devices.

Look around you and chances are that you are near a computer or computing device. Be you in your home, car or out for a stroll - you are most probably near one. Your watch, microwave, car, ATM bank machine, telephone, pager, CD player, clock, VCR, laser disk player, dvd player - computer. All of these devices and many more have tiny silicon devices that compute and store information. By traveling through our museum's timeline you will grasp the exciting 4,000 year history of the information age. Technology becomes easier to accept when one learns about its origins in the natural process of human development.

Come and join us in exploring this world!

Our Location

We are located 90 miles North of Yellowstone National Park in beautiful downtown Bozeman, Montana. Our street (Babcock) parallels and is one block from Main Street. The American Computer Museum is ideally situated to cater to the millions of visitors that Montana hosts annually on their way to Glacier or Yellowstone National Parks or any number of incredibly beautiful places in our state. The Gallatin Field Airport (9 miles from Bozeman) is serviced by Delta, Northwest and Horizon Air.

Our museum is detailed in many tourist publications including the AAA Tourbook for Idaho, Montana & Wyoming.

Hours:

June/July/August: 10am to 4pm, 7 days a week

September - May: 10am to 4pm, Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday & Saturday

Closed July 4th, Christmas Day, New Years Day

Admission: Adults 13 and over: $3.00    Children 6 to 12: $2.00, under 6 years of age: Free

Contacting Us

 

By Phone:   (406) 587-7545      By Fax:  (406) 587-9620     By email americancomputermuseum@computer.org

The Computer Museum

editors last visit Aug 1996

USA

Computer Museum Boston USA,

the physical collection of this museum has been transferred to www.computerhistory.org

The collection contains:

  • parts of Whirlwind
  • a SAGE console that is rigged to show blinking lights
  • A core simulator running on a DEC GIGI

Totnes Museum

Not visited by the HoCF

UK Totnes Museum , 70 Fore Street, Totnes, Devon, UK, +44 803 863 821

Interesting fact is that Charles Babbage was born in Totnes, and there is a collection and exhibition of Babbage memorabilia.

(Information provided by Chris P. Burton, 1994-02-20)

 

 

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Go Backindex.gif (440 bytes) Last Updated on February 29, 2004 Feel free to mail the editors 

 


Footnotes & References

1

Though we would like to include every possible museum, we limit the listing to museums that are freely accessible by the public, or on appointment, that have a significant computer(history) department or displays of significant developments in that field. Or museums that have a connection to the History of computing through their collections otherwise.

2 ( David A. Laws - Special to the Mercury News http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/travel/destinations/u_s_regions/west/northern_california/bay_area/2560491.htm)