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    Computer History Museum

    4.4 (397 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Computer History Museum Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Computer History Museum

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    Marlon T.

    Great exhibits and a really fun place to explore! The Computer History Museum has an impressive collection covering the evolution of computers and technology, with plenty of interesting displays and artifacts. There's a lot to see, and it's fascinating to realize just how quickly technology has changed over the years. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the Mountain View area!

    Ai M.

    At a certain level, you might learn more from an issue of National Geographic so maybe I am the wrong demographic for this. I wish they would go into more detail about specialized uses like medicine, not just MRI. I would look at things about the internet and realize that I'm old. It's about design and interface, not about programming. This museum tour seems very much about the historical context of hardware from the 18th century on.

    Mainframe room
    Ken D.

    A fantastic journey through the history of computing! So much to explore here and they even offer demonstrations. Always a great time.

    Becky V.

    This place is underrated. Many locals in the Bay Area don't know this exists! For being in Silicon Valley! What a nice space, starting with the cafe and outdoor grassy seating for you to enjoy a beverage or hangout. The building is big and the flow is set up like IKEA where you start in one side of the maze and you follow along till you get to the end Favorites- -World of Warcraft section! Whoaaa! Including a retired server and signed by employees -video game section including games we grew up with -robot head you can talk to and ask questions and will respond

    IBM Artifacts
    Sparky D.

    You can get a Groupon deal. Since we live in Silicon Valley, it's a good to know kind of museum to visit. I do wish it had more hands on exhibits, most you can touch and no flash photography. I recommend going at least once. Lots of interesting displays, videos to see and information to read.

    Chris H.

    I was in the area for a meeting, and they opted to hold it at the Computer History Museum. Our hosts made sure that we got a tour of the museum with a docent! First and foremost, the docents are amazing, very knowledgeable and engaging. If you get an opportunity, I highly recommend doing a guided tour with them. After you finish the tour, you can still explore other areas that they didn't include in the tour. Stepping into this museum really makes you appreciate how fast technology has changed and adapted. Just looking at items from the 60's and 70's made me feel ancient already. You can easily spend half a day here without worry and still be engaged. Additionally, you could just study here if you wanted, the outside area is really nice and the coffee shop is excellent.

    Pricing.
    James Y.

    This museum is amazing. Growing up in the Bay Area, I've heard about this museum but had never visited until recently. Wow, all of the information and technology related to computers, this museum did a fantastic job going through the history to education the progression of how computers really got their start to where we are now--that AI chat bot is creepy AF, by the way. I didn't like the fact that a part of this museum Was closed and dedicated to a church. That wasn't cool, but other than that, this museum is pretty awesome for people interested in computers and technology or grew up in the bay.

    Ray L.

    Great museum for anyone interested in tech history. My kids loved playing the old arcade games, and it was interesting for us adults to see early IBM computers, the first Mac, floppy disks, and other tech from the Bill Gates and Steve Jobs era now behind glass. The programming languages exhibit and the AI section were especially interesting. It's a good reminder of how fast technology changes and how much the industry has evolved. Well‑organized, easy to follow, and worth a visit if you're in the Bay Area.

    Ameca AI Chat bot!
    Luis S.

    Wow I'm so happy this place exists and preserves technological history! If you're a fan of tech or computers, this is the place for you. They have a historical breakdown of technology as you move room to room. You'll see things like the first computer ever made, this thing is massive it takes up like half the room. The first typewriter and calculator are there too along with other inventions. You'll also see the history of video games, the first Atari and Nintendo, they actually have all the consoles up to PS4. But the star of the show is Ameca, the AI robot you can actually speak to. I stood in line and got a chance to ask her a question. I asked if she can feel music. She said she can't hear music like regular humans, but she can analyze data and vibe to the beat. Overall, such a cool place, definitely check it out with the fam if you're into technology. Oh, and it's inexpensive, and the staff is nice.

    Yan W.

    CHM (Computer History Museum) is a computer museum in Mountain View, California. It could take you half a day to walk through. It was very impressive and we liked this museum so much! The museum is divided into the Revolution, the Learning Lab, the Software Lab, etc. (Don't miss the IBM lab). It was also a captivating journey through the evolution of computing technology. We liked the Computer Games section, and it shows my favorite childhood games of Pac-Man and Gameboy, etc. We had so much fun, and we explained to our daughters that we used some of the old technology before. It was interesting to see the cassette, floppy disc, laser disc, and those flip phones that we used before. It was worth the visit. Highly recommended! FYI: General Admission: adult 18+ ($19.50 each), student (age 11+) $16.50, Youth 8-10 $6, senior (age 65+) $16.50, child age 0-7 (free) CHM is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MUSEUM HOURS Monday and Tuesday: Closed Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

    Jessica W.

    It's incredible how well preserved and thoughtfully displayed everything is because it really makes the experience much more enjoyable. This museum is great for all ages and gives you a real appreciation for how far technology has come and how fast it's evolved over the years. I loved that some of the items aren't behind glass, so you can get a closer look at the details (but no, you still can't touch them, so be respectful!). Depending on how much time you spend reading the descriptions, expect to be here for about 2-3 hours. The layout can be a little tricky to navigate since the sections aren't clearly divided by walls, but each area walks you through how different items have changed from the past to the present. You'll see everything from rulers and calculators to early computers, keyboards, memory storage, robots, games, and even a section on AI which feels especially relevant today. After visiting, I left feeling so thankful for the technology we have now. It's a good reminder that we sometimes don't realize how lucky we are until we see what people had to work with back then. Adult tickets were only $19.50 each, which is super affordable especially compared to most museums these days charging $40-60. Definitely worth the price! I highly recommend visiting. It's nostalgic, informative, and such a hidden gem in the Bay Area.

    Revolution
    Annabelle R.

    Free admission with Bank of America card on first weekends of the month, so take advantage. At first glance, you may be amazed by the wall of graphics and data showing the origin of emojis, or the display of the world's smallest computer which can fit on the tip of a pencil. But there's tons more to see and experience, so park in that crowded lot and give yourself at least a couple hours. Interactive exhibits in the software lab and changing gallery included the nvidia canvas (turning doodles into landscapes), playing the Wikipedia quiz (which I won of course), and distinguishing between the sounds of a vinyl record, cassette tape, CD, and mp3 playing a song of choice. In the main part of the museum (the Revolution), you'll find computers in the form of video game consoles throughout the years, shoes (ie. nike ipod), robots in different forms, and useful machines including phones, calculators, kitchen appliances, and cars. What's more, amusing exhibits showcasing the use of technology in art and music, and even the "Silicon Valley Napkin" on display. A maze of endless rooms with so much to explore, and very interesting exhibits that will bring a feeling of curiosity and nostalgia even if you're not particularly interested or well-versed in the world of technology. Also, we got some snacks and drinks from the Cloud Bistro in the lobby, and everything was delish! The last time I was here was almost two decades ago, and lots has changed. Our recent experience was certainly better than expected.

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    Computer History Museum Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Computer History Museum

    Anyone know if this place is open? They state they're closed but yet you can still buy a Groupon to visit. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    They're open as of last week. I visited this past Saturday, April 2nd.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Computer History Museum

    I say "most" because we only went in to see the IBM guys, and walk around the main portion of the museum.

    Mentioned in 23 reviews

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    Moffett Field Museum

    Moffett Field Museum

    4.9(22 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    There are TWO listings here on Yelp for this great place. Same place, different address. I write on…read morethis listing as it shares the same address as the official website. (Can someone please consolidate the two somehow?) Great historical living museum of aircraft that served in various conflicts and battles. Not huge so happily, it's packed with wonderful archives and exhibits but does not require hours and hours to soak in. Any aeronautical enthusiast (or history buff) will surely enjoy a visit here. In addition to planes and parts, there are authentic uniforms, photographs, and documents to help with a better understanding of the times. Lastly, be sure to check out the train room, which is a lot of fun, too. It's easy to get mesmerized by the train cars of another era -- with double tiered tracks to follow along. Though it may not be a place you would hear a lot about, Moffett Field Museum is a well-cared for and important museum with much to enjoy. Note: Be prepared with your I.D. and check it out! (There are a few food options nearby -- so before you leave, ask the volunteers for recommendations and/or check Yelp!)

    The Moffett Field Museum is located right next to the famous blimp hangar at Moffett Field. The…read moremuseum has a lot of interactive things to enjoy including a cabin of a Harrier airplane, a WW1 walkthrough immersion exhibit, tanks, planes and helicopters. The docent's at the museum are very knowledgeable and absolutely love talking about the history of Moffett Field. Wifey and I spoke with one for nearly 2 hours as he guided us around the museum. The museum stays open with donations and most everything inside has been donated by people who was at Moffett field or their loved ones. If you want to learn some great history about our area and the war effort of years gone by then this is your place. And you get to see the newly revitalized Google hanger a too. :-D

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    Moffett Field Museum
    Moffett Field Museum
    Moffett Field Museum

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    The Foster Museum - The Foster Museum

    The Foster Museum

    5.0(37 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    What to do after brunch on Sunday in Palo Alto? Head to the Foster! Parking is a breeze, the…read moreadmission is free, and the experience works for all ages! As a dabbler in watercolors, I was transfixed--some of these paintings are huge--and he does not use photographs! As an educator, my mind was brimming with opportunities to integrate his work into humanities and human geography classes. The Foster website has excellent resources. This is a must see if you are in the area!

    This turned out to be one of my favorite stops, especially when I'm in between appointments in Palo…read moreAlto. I knew in advance that on Thursdays (2nd & 4th weeks only), the public street parking in front of the building was off limits for street sweeping/no parking between 7am-11am, so I got very lucky pulling up in front at 11am sharp. Nice. Easy walk. The Foster Museum was very simple, decent, positive, and relaxing environment filled with gorgeous nature views/sketches/watercolor artworks by the U.K. artist, Tony Foster. Good feeling here. Free admissions and good customer service staffs. You can just walk in or register online. There's a tiny gift area not far from the public restrooms. I signed the guestbook at the end of my walk. Good place to hang around/includes unlimited paper, paper/pencils/samples/etc. If you like to sketch and get some creative inspirations, all the nature artworks in the gallery is definitely a good place to start. Not huge, but perfectly quite and calm for art lovers. You can request for an orientation and/or tour as desired. Great first impression during first visit. It's the positive feeling I get from observing the energy and various colorful artworks. Simple and stress-free. Good value/free admissions is totally worth the 1-2 hours here. They also host art classes too, but I will need to take time to browse around online. Good vibes. Staffs are friendly inside. Hidden place. Love it.

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    The Foster Museum - The Foster Museum

    The Foster Museum

    The Foster Museum - The Foster Museum

    The Foster Museum

    The Foster Museum - The Foster Museum

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    The Foster Museum

    Los Altos History Museum - The interactive town map in the Permanent Exhibition

    Los Altos History Museum

    4.8(96 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Los Altos History Museum is such a hidden gem! It's tucked right by the Los Altos Library, so…read moreparking is easy and plentiful, which makes it a low stress outing. Inside, there's a rotating art exhibit that makes each visit feel a little different, plus a beautiful model train setup that is especially great if you're visiting with kids. It's the kind of thing that can keep little ones happily entertained for a bit. Admission is free, though donations are suggested, and it feels like a lovely community spot that's worth supporting. It's not a huge museum, but that's part of the charm, it's easy to pop in, explore, and leave feeling like you discovered something special.

    I would highly recommend booking this museum in Los Altos for your wedding or any event, really…read more The venue is absolutely stunning for an outdoor wedding and has an indoor section too. We really wanted a cozy intimate backyard wedding vibe and that's exactly what we got here! Huge plus is my husband loves history, and you get free access to the museum for a year with a ton of other benefits once you have an event here + your donation is tax deductible. You also don't need much decor at all due to the natural beauty but we hired a decorator for the arches, stages, and table settings. Lisa will also give you a list of vendors partners you can work with just in case. Overall, she was really amazing to work with and super responsive because anytime we needed to do a tour walk through with vendors or a tour of the venue, she was there. Thanks Lisa for answering all my questions!! You can't go wrong having your wedding here. We had a spring wedding of close to ~200 folks and thank God it didn't rain but summer or even fall would be beautiful here. For photoshoot opportunities there's a ton onsite and a beautiful orchard just steps away from the museum for sunset shots. A magical day indeed.

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    Los Altos History Museum - Inside museum

    Inside museum

    Los Altos History Museum - Courtyard

    Courtyard

    Los Altos History Museum - Permanent Exhibition and the globe chair for hearing oral histories

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    Permanent Exhibition and the globe chair for hearing oral histories

    Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Feeding the tortoise

    Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

    4.4(396 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    For the price, it's definitely a little gem in Palo Alto. Having a little young, I didn't even know…read morethat Palo Alto had this zoo but we decided to take a trip one day to come check it out. You have to make a reservation I'm guessing so it doesn't get overpacked. As soon as you enter, there's a ton of indoor activities for the little. There's a dino area right outside and then on the other side is where the zoo part is. There's not a ton of animals but the animals that are there were pretty active when we were there. There was a tortoise, birds, rabbits, fish, flamingos that we actually got to feed and a few others that I'm forgetting. Again, not huge but it was enough that we probably spent about a good 2 hours there. After that, there's also a park right behind it so if your kiddos aren't tired already, they can burn off some energy there. If we lived closer, I would consider getting a pass but for now, we'll do some day trips there

    Admission I've visited a couple of times - once for a…read moreregular visit and birthday party. During my first visit in May 2026, the admission was $14 per ticket for both an adult and toddler for the 10:00 a.m. reservation. If you're planning a birthday celebration or picnic, there are first-come, first-served tables at Rinconada Park next door. Venue The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo is exactly that - it's a smaller, toddler-friendly museum and zoo. Plan to visit for an estimated 1.5 - 2 hours, as this should be plenty of time to explore everything. There are both indoor and outdoor experiences, including interactive activities for little ones, an outdoor zoo, complimentary flamingo feeding sessions, and a treehouse-style playground. Animals available included meerkats, flamingos, raccoons, fish, a tortoise, and macaws. Location / Parking The museum is right next to Rinconada Park and there's a dedicated parking lot. It can fill up quickly during popular reservation times and street parking is also available nearby. Customer Service The front desk staff scans admission tickets upon arrival and provides a stamp for in-and-out privileges, which is helpful if you plan to visit the neighboring Rinconada Park.

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    Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Flamingo!

    Flamingo!

    Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
    Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Macaws

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    Macaws

    The Tech Interactive - Meet Buster, our robot, who occasionally likes to stroll around the galleries.

    The Tech Interactive

    3.4(765 reviews)
    11.8 miDowntown
    Not-for-profit
    Established in 1998

    It's very interactive. I had a lot of fun going here over the years. It's near the art museums and…read morein a good location. I usually go when it's the first weekend of the month but they changed it so first weekend of the month they choose for Bank of America and Merrill customers. The San Jose libraries have free access but you have to book in advance to get free or low cost tickets. For someone who goes for free, it's worth going.

    Uniqueness: Sadly, a lot of the original exhibits and contraptions have been replaced. But at least…read morethe Human Body Exhibit is still here! Wait Time: [x][x][x][x][x] Service: [x][x][x][x][ ] Setting: [x][x][ ][ ][ ] Cost: [x][x][x][ ][ ] Recommendation? Sadly, for a musuem recommendation for the kids, it feels quite limited in what they have to offer and other museums in the Bay Area have more to do for the kids and even the adults. I was quite disappointed at how much has changed at the Tech Initiative (not Tech Museum) recently. It felt like a lot of the key exhibits and attractions of the museum have been replaced or lost vs what it used to be a couple years ago. The museum felt unusually more spacious i.e. a lot of empty space than before due to exhibits being removed and interestingly, it felt slightly outdated. The Human Body exhibit was still there so that was nice to walk through and the Rube Goldberg exhibit outside was exactly as it was years back. The gift store was pricey and didn't have as much interesting gifts but the IMAX show felt just like before & was included in the admission, which was nice. With all the changes that this museum has gone through, I unfortunately won't be coming back here in a while until there's something new that's rolling through.

    Photos
    The Tech Interactive - A family at the Living Colors Lab, where you can engineer bacteria to glow different colors.

    A family at the Living Colors Lab, where you can engineer bacteria to glow different colors.

    The Tech Interactive
    The Tech Interactive - Building  a robot

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    Building a robot

    Hiller Aviation Museum

    Hiller Aviation Museum

    4.3(304 reviews)
    11.8 mi
    Not-for-profit
    Free parking

    I came here after my kiddo had already visited because he talked so much about it…read more I've driven by so many times but this was the first time I stopped in to check it out. We walked in and we paid our entrance fee at the front and were told if we were interested in a membership we could use our entrance fee to pay towards that cost. My kiddo led our visit around the entire museum. I loved how interactive the areas were specially the cockpit area. The volunteers and staff were friendly and my kiddos enjoyment of the space solidified my interest in a membership which I ultimately got. Since then we have been back multiple times. We've enjoyed all our visits and check in goes smoothly since we already have a barcode. At our last visit I ended up setting the 5 minute timer for the cockpit area since we waited so long to get in. Probably the most popular space in this entire museum. While my kiddo and I played and several other families waited their turn patiently a parent walked up and asked how much longer we'd be there since her kid had been waiting a long time. Wild to me because we had been waiting in line that's not really a line but some seats in the back and not once did I see this parent waiting. She must of waited a whole minute before speaking to me. I told her we just got in and that I had set my 5 minute timer. She said she didn't see the sign and others pointed her right to it. Right in front of her face. She asked if I worked here. I said no but that the 3 volunteers out there did to redirect her and enjoy my 5 minutes. As one of the most popular attractions here it would be beneficial for volunteers to monitor the line and timers per group. It's insane to me that grown people can act like this or just oversee other waiting groups and act more impatient than a toddler. The space is way too small to be insufferable in a place to enjoy, explore and take turns. Front staff is great. Most volunteers are great. The volunteers in the cockpit benefit from helping maneuver cockpit time and potential lines. This is a well cared for museum and an enjoyable way to spend the day. Our family enjoys it and will continue to be members till my kids want to be.

    Hiller Aviation Museum is one of the more unusual aviation museums I've ever visited. It is just…read moreabout 11 miles south of SFO off Hwy 101 adjacent to the San Carlos airport. The aircraft & artifacts are mainly from the collection of Stanley Hiller of the Hiller Aircraft Corp that has been developing helicopters and other experimental flying machines since the late 40's. So many of these unusual copters, gyros & flying platforms are on display, plus anything else Stanley had collected over the decades. There aren't a lot of more recognizable aircraft, but you learn a lot by reading about these rare, one-of-a-kind flying machines. On slow days, you buy your entry ticket in the gift shop and go through the entry hall that is dominated by a full scale replica of the X-Prize winning SpaceShipOne hanging from the ceiling. As you enter the main gallery, you have turn of the century wood & fabric biplane replicas of the Wright brothers & Glenn Curtiss along with early not-so-successful flying machines. Moving onto the middle 20th century, the Hiller Aviation Corp. designed some offbeat personal aircraft with personal vertical takeoff craft 70 years before their time. There are also more conventional winged aircraft like the Grumman Albatross (propeller seaplane) and Aero L-39 Albatros (Czech jet trainer), 2 totally different planes with similar names sitting right next to each other. Above them all is the mother of all remotely piloted drones, the Boeing Condor from 1988 with a huge wingspan of 200 ft! If you go out the back, you get to climb through the nose section of a Boeing 747-100 jumbo airliner from the 70's & 80's. The gift shop is one of the more extensive that I've seen with lots of souvenirs for all ages and aviation memorabilia for enthusiasts.

    Photos
    Hiller Aviation Museum
    Hiller Aviation Museum
    Hiller Aviation Museum

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    Computer History Museum - museums - Updated August 2026

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