Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 14:21:28 -0500
From: John Foust <jfoust(a)threedee.com>
Subject: American Computer Museum?
Anyone ever been to this place in Bozeman, MT?
http://www.compuseum.org
- John
The American Computer Museum is quite good. However, Bozeman *is* a bit off the
beaten track, and a straightforward tour (arranged as a timeline) only takes
about an hour. All the exhibits are static: no blinkenlights, poppenkorken, or
blowenfusen to amuse das dumbkopfen. When I was there (about 3 years ago) they
didn't have anything really exotic that I can recall, but there were some quite
cool electromechanical accounting machines and some fine 10 key-per-column
Burroughs adding machines. There is a well stocked little gift shop. The
people who run it certainly know their stuff (spelling mistakes
notwithstanding).
Also well worth looking into is:
http://www.computerhistory.org/
located at Moffet Field, near Mountain View, CA. I was there last week, and
they have some very neat stuff: part of the original ENIAC, a complete (but
butchered) JOHNNIAC, a CRAY 1, a CRAY 2, the original Woz Apple prototype, and
uncharted warehouses full of dusty boxes donated over the years. At present
they are only open a couple of days a week. A very knowledgeable guide (who
probably actually used some of the stuff they have on display) will give you a
guided tour.
Enjoy,
Bob.
| the digital divide is an issue of poverty;
Bob Bramwell 60 Baker Cr. NW | if we can eliminate the information
ProntoLogical Calgary, AB | barriers, we'll all live in a safer,
+1 403/861-8827 T2L 1R4, Canada | more prosperous world.
| - John Gage, Sun's chief researcher.