Computer History Museum
Museum Museum chronicling computing and technology history in Silicon Valley
Located in Silicon Valley, the Computer History Museum documents computing through artifacts, interactive exhibits and restored machines; tech enthusiasts visit to trace computing milestones and industry origins.
The Computer History Museum is a museum in Mountain View, California, dedicated to the history of computing and information technology. The institution preserves artifacts, documents, and stories about the development of computing from early mechanical aids to modern digital systems.
Exhibits include a long-term presentation that surveys computing history and rotating or temporary galleries that highlight specific technologies, companies, or themes. The museum also runs public programs, talks, and education workshops for school groups and adults.
The organization grew from earlier computer-history collecting efforts and has developed a large artifact collection and digital archives used by researchers and the public. Its mission is to document technological, social, and business aspects of computing history.
The museum is located in Mountain View in Silicon Valley, near technology companies and research institutions, and is accessible by car and public transit from surrounding Bay Area communities.
- Location: Located in Mountain View in Silicon Valley, the museum documents computing history with a large artifact collection and public exhibitions.
- Collections and programs: Offers a mix of hands-on exhibits, historic machines, and rotating programs aimed at both general audiences and specialist researchers.
What to See #
- Revolution gallery: The 'Revolution' permanent exhibition that traces the development of computing from early mechanical devices to modern digital systems through artifacts and displays.
- Education and temporary exhibits: Temporary exhibition galleries, an education center, and public programming space used for talks, workshops, and special exhibits.
How to Get to Computer History Museum #
The Computer History Museum is in Mountain View, California on Shoreline Boulevard. From Caltrain, get off at Mountain View station and either walk (~20-25 minutes, about 1.5-2 km) or take a local VTA bus that serves Shoreline Boulevard (check current VTA route information for the best stop). By car it’s a short drive from nearby Silicon Valley cities (about 15-25 minutes from central San Jose, and roughly 30-45 minutes from San Francisco depending on traffic) with onsite parking nearby.
Tips for Visiting Computer History Museum #
- Go on a weekday morning soon after opening to experience the core galleries with fewer visitors and to catch curator talks or docent-led tours before lunch crowds arrive.
- Check the museum's events calendar on arrival and time your visit around scheduled working-machine demonstrations and special-exhibit entry slots-these often have limited seating and fixed start times.
- Don't miss the permanent revolution gallery and any scheduled demos of vintage equipment; ask at the front desk which machines will be demonstrated that day so you can plan your route.
Best Time to Visit Computer History Museum #
Best to visit on weekday mornings outside school holidays for a quieter experience at this primarily indoor museum.
Weather & Climate near Computer History Museum #
Computer History Museum's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in December). Temperatures range from 5°C to 26°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 5°C. The wettest month with 76 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 10°C. Almost no rain and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 12°C. Almost no rain.
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July
July is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 13°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. Almost no rain and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 13°C. Almost no rain.
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October
October is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall.
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November
November is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is the coolest month with highs of 15°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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