Challenge your friends and family to play classic favorites like Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, Class of ‘81, The Fast & The Furious, or NBA Jam on arcade consoles. And, see historic artifacts from video game history, including Atari, Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, Sega, and Commodore.
The exhibit runs from Nov. 19, 2025 through Feb. 16, 2026, in CHM’s Orientation Theater.
MUSEUM HOURS
Monday and Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday–Sunday
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Holiday Schedule
Make Software explores the history, impact, and technology behind seven game-changing applications: MP3, Photoshop, MRI, Car Crash Simulation, Wikipedia, Texting, and World of Warcraft. The Stata Family Foundation Software Lab is at the center of the exhibition, where visitors are introduced to basic programming concepts and encouraged to try coding hands-on.
Discover the machine that sparked a revolution in business computing. The IBM 1401 Demo Lab brings the pioneering IBM 1401 system to life. Launched in 1959, the IBM 1401 was the first widely affordable computer, making data processing accessible to businesses of all sizes and forever changing the way the world worked. This exhibit offers a rare opportunity to see a fully restored IBM 1401 in action, complete with the whirring sounds of punched cards and spinning tapes. Be sure to check demonstration times in advance of your visit.
Step into the past with the PDP-1 demo lab. The PDP-1 (Programmed Data Processor-1) redefined what computers could be, marking the shift from massive, room-filling machines to interactive systems that empowered people to create, play, and innovate. From the birthplace of digital gaming with Spacewar! to groundbreaking applications in music and graphics don’t miss the chance to see one of the few working PDP-1 systems in the world. Check demonstration times in advance of your visit.
Dive into this collection of the Museum’s past exhibits to relive the stories and discoveries that continue to inspire the future of computing. Over the years, we’ve curated a wide range of exhibitions that have explored the transformative impact of technology on society, culture, and industries worldwide. From groundbreaking devices to influential software, each exhibit has offered unique insights into the pioneers, inventions, and milestones that have shaped the digital world we live in today.
Become part of the movement transforming how people understand our computing history, digital present, and future impact on humanity by donating today.
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