The Computer Museum, Boston

The Computer Museum was a downtown Boston institution dedicated to displaying the history and development of computing machines. Its collection presented computers and systems from different eras, showing how they were designed and used.

The museum originated in 1979 at Digital Equipment Corporation in Marlborough before relocating to downtown Boston in 1984. It remained an important center for exploring computing history until its closure at the end of the 1990s.

The Computer Clubhouse program, developed with MIT Media Lab, brought computer access to children from less resourced Boston neighborhoods. This initiative demonstrated how the institution used technology as a tool for educational opportunity.

A two-story walkthrough computer allowed visitors to experience the inner workings of a personal computer firsthand. Interactive displays throughout the building let people of all ages learn about computing by hands-on exploration and discovery.

The collection featured components from Whirlwind 1, one of the earliest digital computers, alongside parts of the UNIVAC 1 and a prototype of NASA's Apollo Guidance Computer. These artifacts represented pivotal moments in both space exploration and computing technology.

Location: Massachusetts

Inception: 1979

Website: http://computerhistory.org

GPS coordinates: 42.35180,-71.04990

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:54