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Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing

The story of computing is epic. It’s driven by the human passion for tinkering, inventing, and solving difficult problems, where accidents and luck can be as important as brilliant engineering.

Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing is an engaging 25,000-square-foot exhibition that chronicles the history of computing, from the abacus to the smartphone. Revolution has 19 galleries, 1,100 objects, and an array of original multimedia experiences, featuring first-hand accounts from pioneers and innovators. Explore the revolution that has changed our world.

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Revolution Virtual Tour

Take a virtual tour of Revolution with GuidiGo. This tour features 31 of the most important artifacts and stories from the exhibition’s more than 1,000 unique artifacts. Join us to experience the amazing stories of the people, machines, programs, and companies of the Digital Age.

The tour features Museum staff and volunteers and is narrated by NPR correspondent Laura Sydell. Content created by Earprint Productions

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Revolution

Calculators Gallery

For centuries, calculators were the only machines to help us compute. Discover the calculating devices that predate the computer, including the abacus, slide rules, and some of the earliest mechanical calculators.

Revolution

Apple-1, 1976

See the Apple-1, the computer that launched Apple Computer, autographed by cofounder Steve Wozniak.

Revolution

Personal Computers Gallery

Explore early PC favorites, including the TRS-80, Commodore PET, and Apple II personal computers.

Revolution

Hollerith Electric Tabulating System, 1890

This device helped the US government complete the 1890 census in record time and, in the process, launched the use of punched cards in business. IBM used the Hollerith system as the basis of its business machines.

Revolution

Digital Logic Gallery

Get an up close look at some of the smallest devices in the exhibit, including early transistors and wafers that help put the name “silicon” in Silicon Valley.

Revolution

SRI Shakey the Robot, 1969

Shakey was the first robot that could reason about its actions without human control. Special software let it create a “map” of its environment, which let it move about freely, even avoiding obstacles placed in its path.

Revolution

Real-Time Computing Gallery

With the help of computers, Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin realized one of humanity’s oldest dreams: to walk on the Moon. On July 20, 1969, they spent two and a half hours outside their Lunar Module “Eagle.” Learn more about how computers launched us out of this world!

Revolution

Atari Pong Prototype, 1972

Remember Pong, the must-have gift of 1975? See Atari’s original Pong prototype and play a live Pong game with a friend!

Revolution

Computer Games Gallery

To find the earliest computer games, find the earliest computers, like this Atari 2600 prototype. Be sure you come to play in our Computer Games gallery.

Revolution

Google Server Engine, 1999

One of Google’s first server racks, made by Google engineers out of commonly available PCs and networking equipment, helped launch the internet giant.

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