Living Computer Museum

Harry Garland and Paul Allen at an event honoring computer pioneers at the museum in April 2013
Harry Garland and Bill Gates at the same event

The Living Computer Museum (LCM) is a museum at 2245 1st Ave S. in Seattle, Washington that showcases vintage computers which provide an interactive session, either through time sharing operating systems or single-user interfaces. On March 17, 2010, it was recognized by Washington State Senate Resolution 8721 "for its role in the preservation of the history of information technology".[1]

LCM (originally known as PDPplanet.com) was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen on January 9, 2006. Using vintage Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) systems and XKL systems, it provides registered users with the opportunity to telnet into these devices and experience computing on "antique" mainframes.[2]

The museum opened to the public on October 25, 2012.

According to the LCM’s website, their goal is ‘to breathe life back into our machines so the public can experience what it was like to see them, hear them, and interact with them. We make our systems accessible by allowing people to come and interact with them, and by making them available over the Internet.'[3] Free accounts are available through the LCM website.[4] The complete list of computers on display is available on LCM’s website.[5]

Machines on display

A roughly 180° panorama of the "conditioned" room at the Living Computer Museum containing mainframes and large minicomputers.
DEC VT100 terminal
Cromemco Z-2 Computer
DECSYSTEM-20 KL-10
DECSYSTEM-2020 KS-10

Apple

Atari

AT&T

Control Data Corporation

Commodore

Cromemco

Data General

Digital Equipment Corporation

IBM

IMSAI

Interdata

Kaypro

MITS

Osborne

Processor Technology

Radio Shack

Teletype Corporation

Vulcan

Xerox

XKL

References

  1. ↑ "Washington State Senate Resolution 8721"
  2. ↑ "Paul G. Allen Launches Web Site Dedicated to Early Computers; PDPplanet.com Site Celebrates Historic Mainframes and Minicomputers" (Press release). 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ http://www.livingcomputermuseum.org/TemplateMain.aspx?contentId=43
  4. ↑ "Request a Login". Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Exhibit Hall". Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  6. ↑ http://www.soemtron.org/pdp7.html

External links

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