- This page was last modified on 5 June 2025, at 18:19. Suggest an edit.
American Computer & Robotics Museum facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | May 1990 |
|---|---|
| Location | 2023 Stadium Drive, Suite 1-A, Bozeman, Montana |
| Type | Computer museum |
The American Computer & Robotics Museum (ACRM) is an exciting museum in Bozeman, Montana, United States. It shows the amazing story of computers, how we communicate, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics.
The museum's main goal is to look at the past and imagine the future of the "Information Age." They do this with cool exhibits, interesting stories, and by sharing new ideas.
History of the Museum
The American Computer & Robotics Museum started in May 1990. It was created by George and Barbara Keremedjiev as a non-profit group in Bozeman, Montana. Many people believe it's the oldest museum in the world focused on computer history.
The museum has collected items that show over 4,000 years of computing and information technology. George Keremedjiev passed away in 2018. However, his wife Barbara and the museum team continue his work. They keep collecting, saving, explaining, and showing the history of the information age.
Explore the Exhibits
The museum has many permanent exhibits that you can explore.
Benchmarks of the Information Age
This exhibit takes you on a journey through information technology. It starts around 1860 B.C.E. with ancient writing systems. Then it moves all the way to 1976 C.E. with the first Apple I personal computer.
NASA Apollo Program
Another cool exhibit is about the NASA Apollo program. You can see real NASA items here. These include an Apollo Guidance Computer. There's also a watch worn on the Moon by Apollo 15 Commander David Scott. You can even see the last working mainframe computer from the Apollo 11 mission, a UNIVAC 418-II.
Early Personal Computers
The museum has a huge collection of early personal computers. You can see famous ones like the Altair 8800, Apple II, Apple Lisa, and the first Apple Mac.
Other Cool Exhibits
You can also learn about the Enigma machine used for codebreaking in World War II. There are exhibits on neural computing and artificial intelligence. You'll find old office and communication tools. Plus, there's a section on robotics and automation, even with items from Hollywood movies! The museum also looks at video games and the future of computing, including quantum computing.
Vintage Mac Museum
A special exhibit is the Vintage Mac Museum. This is a private collection of old Apple Mac computers. It was recently given to the ACRM by the family of a collector named Adam Rosen.
Museum Awards
The American Computer & Robotics Museum has received special awards.
In 1994, the museum won the Dibner Award for Excellence in Museum Exhibits. This award comes from the Society for the History of Technology.
Since 1997, the museum has given out the Stibitz-Wilson awards. These awards honor people who have made big contributions.
Stibitz-Wilson Awards
The George R. Stibitz Computer & Communications Innovator Award is named after Dr. George R. Stibitz. He built the first electric binary adding machine in 1937. The Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Innovator Award is named for Dr. Edward O. Wilson. He was a famous professor from Harvard. In 2011, the museum also started a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Many important innovators have received these awards. For example, Steve Wozniak, who co-founded Apple, received an award in 2000 and again in 2022. Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web, also won in 2000. Other winners include Alan Turing (honored after his lifetime) and Jennifer Doudna, a scientist who helped create gene editing.
Amazing Collections
The ACRM has a huge collection of items. They show over 4,000 years of information technology history.
Ancient Technology
The collection starts with a Babylonian cuneiform tablet from around 1860 B.C.E. It also has a copy of the Antikythera Mechanism. This was an ancient Greek analog computer from about 80 B.C.E. It could predict where planets would be and when eclipses would happen.
Historical Books and Documents
The museum has many old books and documents. These are about the history of computing, communication, and knowledge. Some date back to 1605. You can see original writings by famous thinkers like Francis Bacon and Rene Descartes. There are also original copies of Isaac Newton's Principia and Opticks.
Early Office and Communication Tools
The museum has a large collection of early office machines. These include mechanical adding machines and old calculators. You can also see old telephones, telegraphs, and typewriters. There are even cash registers and old telephone switchboards.
Military Technology
The museum also displays military technology. This includes a Minuteman 1 Missile Guidance Computer. You can also see a Norden bombsight.
Robots and Toys
You'll find mechanical, electrical, and electronic toys here. There's an industrial robot and early home robots like Hubot.
Famous Computers
The museum has a copy of the Model K. This was the first binary adder. Its inventor, George R. Stibitz, built this copy for the museum himself. The ACRM also has many mainframe computers from the 1950s to the 1990s. These include the IBM 1620 Model II and the PDP-8.
Signed Artifacts
Some items in the museum are signed by their creators. There's an original Altair 8800 signed by Ed Roberts. An original Apple I was signed and given to the museum by Steve Wozniak. You can also see a January 1975 Popular Electronics magazine. This magazine announced the Altair. It's signed by Ed Roberts, Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Monte Davidoff.