Overview
The Computer History Museum in Mountain View holds the world's largest collection of computing artifacts — over 100,000 objects spanning 2,000 years from the abacus to the internet. What makes it worth the trip with kids is the density of working machines: the IBM 1401 Demo Lab runs actual punched-card demonstrations on a restored 1959 mainframe, and the PDP-1 Demo Lab shows one of the few operational examples of the machine that gave birth to digital gaming with Spacewar! in 1962. For a STEM-oriented family, this is primary-source history in action, not a replica experience.
How to Do It
The museum is at 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd in Mountain View — take US-101 to the Shoreline Blvd exit (Exit 399A) and it's a straight shot north. Free parking fills the lot directly in front of the building. If you're coming from SF by Caltrain, it's about a 10-minute Lyft or Uber from the Mountain View station, or you can take the VTA bus (about 11 minutes). Start with the Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing exhibit — it anchors everything else and the 20 galleries move chronologically, so kids have a through-line. From there, hit Make Software: Change the World!, which has the hands-on coding station in the Stata Family Foundation Software Lab — best for kids 6 and up who want to actually do something, not just look. Check the demo schedule at the front desk when you arrive for the IBM 1401 and PDP-1 demonstrations; these run on a set schedule and are not to be missed. Finish at the Cloud Bistro cafe, which is solid — no ticket required to eat there.
Tips & Tricks
The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday, so Wednesday through Sunday are your windows. Wednesday and Thursday mornings are the quietest; Saturday afternoons draw the most crowds, often including school groups and tour buses. Plan to arrive close to the 10am open if you're coming on a weekend.
The Make Software exhibit's coding lab is where kids can sit down and actually write simple code on interactive stations — this tends to hold 5-to-8-year-olds longer than anything else in the building. Budget 20-30 minutes here specifically and don't rush through it on the way to something else.
Large bags and backpacks are not permitted in the exhibits — there's a coat check at the front desk. Pack a smaller bag or consolidate before going in. This is easy to miss and can slow down your entry.
Admission is $21.50 for adults, $6 for ages 8-10, and free for children under 7. EBT cardholders get free admission for up to four people with a valid photo ID. There are no online booking fees — tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance. Cash is accepted only at the cafe, not at the ticket desk.
Planning
Admission: $21.50 adults (18+), $16.50 discounted (seniors 65+, students 11+, active military, educators with ID), $6 children ages 8-10, free under 7. Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm; closed Monday, Tuesday, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. No reservation required for general admission. Bring layers — the building is air-conditioned and can run cold. Bring snacks if you have picky eaters, though the Cloud Bistro cafe serves real food. The average visit runs about 2.5 hours; a thorough run-through with demo lab attendance takes closer to 3.5. This activity is best suited for ages 5 and up — younger kids will struggle to engage with the exhibits meaningfully. Fall and winter are ideal since this is a fully indoor, all-weather destination.
