Computer History Museum

05/01/2026

Step back in time with the sounds of the IBM 1401. This is what computing sounded like before screens, apps, and notifications. Every click, whirr, and punch card is part of a system that helped shape the digital world we live in today.

If you’d like to see it in action, join us for a tour every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

04/28/2026

Have you heard the story of how Woz and Steve Jobs originally met? As much as study, research and iteration shapes tech history, a certain amount of serendipity has its place, too.

Bill Fernandez, Apple’s first full-time employee, recalls the introduction he made that changed the course of computers.

04/26/2026

Tune in now to watch the 2026 Fellow Awards honoring Jeff Hawkins, Donna Dubinsky, Ed Colligan, John Chowning, and Brewster Kahle, and Silicon Valley Laureate Mark Stevens.

5 likes. "CHM Awards Ceremony"

04/25/2026

It’s often said that the computers we carry in our pockets today were once the size of entire rooms. They’re talking about this beast. The IBM 1401 was the model of nearly half of the world’s computers in the mid-1960s and weighed over a ton. From 2,000-pound processors to mechanical printers and spinning tape reels, it's a snapshot of computing history in motion.

Want to see the full demo in action? Join us every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

04/23/2026

This weekend we’re hosting our 2026 Fellow Awards, celebrating the remarkable achievements of Jeff Hawkins, Donna Dubinsky, Ed Colligan, John Chowning, Brewster Kahle, and Mark Stevens.

Tune in via YouTube to watch the ceremony live at 7:30 p.m. (PDT):

4 likes. "CHM Awards Ceremony"

04/23/2026

A visit to CHM is shaped not just by what’s on display, but by those who help interpret it. We’re proud to celebrate the volunteers who make each experience more engaging, insightful, and memorable.

Experience these volunteer-led tours and demonstrations:
- Revolution Tour: Wednesday–Sunday at 12 PM and 2 PM
- IBM 1401 Demo: Wednesday at 3 PM; Saturday at 11 AM and 1 PM
- PDP-1 & Spacewar! Demo: First and third Saturday of each month at 2:30 PM and 3:15 PM
- SpaceWar! Tournament on the 5th Saturday of the month
- RAMAC 350 Demo: Wednesday at 1 PM
- Big Mac Demo: Second and fourth Saturday of the month

Learn more about becoming a volunteer: https://bit.ly/4vU3Wpl

04/21/2026

The Boardroom Showdown: The Story Behind Steve Jobs’ Demotion at Apple

In 1985, Steve Jobs introduced the Macintosh with the belief that it would redefine personal computing, but behind the scenes, a growing tension was building over vision, pricing, and the future of Apple’s profitable business.

What followed was a pivotal moment in tech history that marked a turning point in Steve Jobs’ time at the company.

Image credit: San Francisco Chronicle/ Hearst Newspapers, Marilyn K. Yee

04/17/2026

The PalmPilot was a small, personal digital assistant (PDA) designed to manage contacts, calendars, notes, and other everyday information. Its design and portability helped popularize handheld computing, offering a practical way to stay organized on the go.

This innovation was driven by the Palm team — Jeff Hawkins, Donna Dubinsky, and Ed Colligan — who are being recognized as 2026 CHM Fellows for their development of groundbreaking handheld computers and early smartphones, establishing a foundation for modern mobile computing.

CHM is proud to honor their contributions and lasting impact on the evolution of technology.

04/16/2026

April’s Artifact of the Month: The iPod

Before streaming put millions of songs at our fingertips, listening to music meant carrying CDs, burning playlists, or carefully choosing what made it onto your portable device.

That changed in 2001, when Apple introduced the iPod with a simple promise: “1,000 songs in your pocket.” With its iconic click wheel and sleek design, the iPod made navigating entire music libraries feel effortless and personal. It didn’t just transform how we listened to music, it reshaped the music industry itself, paving the way for digital downloads and streaming.

04/15/2026

The heat sink that sunk the Apple III. Over decades at Apple, Chris Espinosa shipped the Apple II, Macintosh, MacWorks XL, and dozens of other products and features.

The Apple III holds an infamous place in computing history. Thanks to an unfortunate design decision combined with the wrong choice of metals, components would begin to overheat, oxidize and fail.

04/14/2026

We’ve got big news for researchers! 🗞️

Applications are now open for travel grants supporting research at CHM’s Shustek Research Archives in Fremont, California. These grants provide an opportunity for researchers to engage with one of the world’s leading collections in computing history. Applications are due June 1, with grant recipients to be announced by July 1, 2026.

Apply now: https://bit.ly/3QczXZc

04/10/2026

An early iPod prototype in our latest Apple at 50 exhibit reveals just how different the experience could have been, with an unusually large size, physical divots on the scroll wheel, and early experiments in navigation and button placement that would eventually evolve into a seamless interface.

Visit Apple at 50 to see it up close, open through September 7.