What Can I Explore Online at the Computer History Museum?

Updated

You can explore a substantial part of the Computer History Museum (CHM) without visiting Silicon Valley. The site offers online versions of major exhibits, a searchable collections catalog, interactive timelines, a blog and stories section, a podcast, and event listings. The main limitation is that some content is tied to in-person visits—the site lists museum hours (Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday) and a ticketing page, so online access complements rather than replaces a visit. Below is what's available and how to use it.

Online Exhibits You Can Experience Remotely

CHM explicitly labels some exhibits as available "online or in person," which means you can go through them from a browser.

Exhibit What it covers Online access
REVOLUTION: The First 2000 Years of Computing 19 galleries and 1,100 objects tracing computing history Yes — "Experience this exhibit online or in person"
Make Software: Change the World! History and impact of seven applications: MP3, Photoshop, MRI, Car Crash Simulation, Wikipedia, Texting, and World of Warcraft Yes — "Experience this exhibit online or in person"
Chatbots Decoded: Exploring AI What chatbots are, where they come from, and why they matter Listed as a main exhibit; the site describes an in-gallery chatbot robot and expert commentary
Extended Reality: Visions of the Future Evolution of VR, AR, smart glasses, and AI wearables across six decades and 100+ devices Described as a new exhibit; check the site for online availability

If your goal is to actually learn the material rather than just see what's on display, start with REVOLUTION and Make Software—those are the two the museum itself flags as fully experienceable online.

Collections, Timelines, and the Blog

Beyond exhibits, CHM's "Explore" section is where most of the research-oriented online content lives:

  • Collections — a browsable catalog of artifacts. There's a search box ("Or search the collection catalog") on the site, so you can look up specific machines, people, or companies rather than scrolling.
  • Timelines — chronological views of computing history, useful if you want context before diving into a specific exhibit.
  • CHM Blog and Stories — written pieces on technology, people, and ideas; good for following current museum work and research.
  • Playlists — curated groupings of content, listed alongside the blog under "Discover CHM Online."

A practical sequence: use Timelines to get oriented, then search Collections for the specific artifacts you care about, then read the Blog for interpretation and current context.

Podcast and Video Resources

  • Decoding Tech Podcast — CHM's podcast, listed under both "Explore" and "Discover CHM Online."
  • Source Code — listed as an online resource in the same section, alongside the podcast.

These are the options if you prefer listening or watching over reading. The site doesn't specify episode counts or release schedules, so check the podcast page directly for what's currently available.

Events and the Online Store

  • Upcoming Events — the site lists public programs with dates and times, for example "Cars—Computers on Wheels" (Sat, Oct 10, 10:00 AM), "Data Are Made, Not Found" (Thu, Nov 5, 7:00 PM), and "SRI at 80" (Thu, Nov 12, 6:00 PM). Some events may be streamed or recorded; the listing itself doesn't say, so confirm on the individual event page.
  • CHM Online Store — a selection of tech-inspired gifts based on the collection and exhibits.

What Requires a Visit or an Account

Two things to keep in mind before you plan around online content:

  1. Tickets and admission are separate from online access. The site has "Tickets," "Plan Your Visit," and "Hours & Admission" pages, which implies in-person entry involves ticketing. Online exhibit pages don't state a login requirement, but the site also doesn't say online content is free—don't assume either way without checking.
  2. Subscribe / newsletter — the site offers a "Subscribe" option and a newsletter signup. This is for updates, not for unlocking content, based on how it's presented.

For a remote-first visit, the highest-value path is: REVOLUTION online → Make Software online → Collections search for specific artifacts → Timelines for chronology → Decoding Tech Podcast for audio. That covers the museum's core historical narrative without leaving your browser.