How to Stay Involved with the Computer History Museum

You can stay involved with the Computer History Museum (CHM) in four main ways: subscribe to its newsletter, attend upcoming events, become a member or donor, and shop the online store. All of these are reachable from computerhistory.org. The sections below cover what each option involves and how to start.

Subscribe for News and Updates

CHM offers a newsletter sign-up through its Subscribe page and a separate sign-up form hosted at info.computerhistory.org/subscribe. Subscribing is the lowest-commitment way to hear about new exhibits, events, and museum news without needing to visit in person.

Use this if you want periodic updates but aren't ready to commit to membership or a visit. The site lists "Subscribe" as a top-level menu item alongside Donate and Tickets, so it's treated as a primary way to stay connected.

Attend Upcoming Events

CHM runs a public events program, with listings collected under "Upcoming Events." Examples shown on the site include:

Event dates and times are subject to change, so check the Upcoming Events page for current listings before planning around a specific talk. These are a good fit if you want deeper, topic-focused content rather than a general museum visit.

Visit in Person

If you want the full experience, the museum is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and closed Monday and Tuesday. Holiday closures are listed separately on the site. Before you go, check the Plan Your Visit page for hours, admission, and tour options, since hours and admission details can change.

Current exhibits include:

• REVOLUTION: The First 2000 Years of Computing — 19 galleries and 1,100 objects covering the sweep of computing history. Available online or in person.
• Chatbots Decoded: Exploring AI — an exhibit on what chatbots are, where they come from, and why they matter, including a chatbot-powered robot.
• Make Software: Change the World! — the history and impact of seven applications: MP3, Photoshop, MRI, Car Crash Simulation, Wikipedia, Texting, and World of Warcraft. Available online or in person.
• Extended Reality: Visions of the Future — virtual reality, augmented reality, smart glasses, and AI-powered wearables, spanning six decades and more than 100 devices.

Tours and group or school visits are booked separately through the Plan Your Visit section.

Support the Museum

CHM lists several ways to contribute:

• Membership — join as a member for ongoing involvement.
• Donate — a direct giving option, listed as a top-level menu item.
• Ways to Give — additional giving options beyond a one-time donation.
• Volunteers — listed under the About section for those who want to contribute time.

Which one fits depends on what you want: membership if you plan to visit or engage repeatedly, a donation if you want to support the museum financially without a recurring commitment, and volunteering if you'd rather give time than money.

Shop the Online Store

The CHM Online Store carries tech-inspired gifts based on the museum's collection and exhibits. It's a straightforward option if you want something connected to computing history without visiting in person.

Explore Online

If you can't visit, CHM publishes substantial material online: Collections, Timelines, the CHM Blog, Stories, Playlists, the Decoding Tech Podcast, and the Source Code playlist. The REVOLUTION and Make Software exhibits are both available online as well. This is the best starting point if your interest is research or browsing rather than attending in person.

Which Option Fits You

• Just want updates: Subscribe to the newsletter.
• Want to learn something specific: Check Upcoming Events for a relevant talk.
• Want the full museum experience: Plan a visit for Wednesday–Sunday.
• Want to support the mission: Choose membership, a donation, or volunteering based on whether you prefer giving money or time.
• Can't travel: Use the online collections, exhibits, blog, and podcast.