Computer History Museum Launches Expansive Online Portal

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The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California has launched a new online portal called OpenCHM, giving the public unprecedented digital access to explore its vast collection of historic computers, electronics, and other technological artifacts. While the site is still in beta, it already features curated highlights, a dynamic "Discovery Wall" showcasing visitor-selected items, and scans of rare publications like Ted Nelson's pioneering 1974 book "Computer Lib/Dream Machines".

Why it matters

The launch of OpenCHM represents a major step forward in making the Computer History Museum's unparalleled collection accessible to a global audience. As one of the world's premier institutions dedicated to preserving the history of computing, this new online portal allows tech enthusiasts, historians, and the merely curious to virtually wander the museum's halls and discover rare and fascinating artifacts from the dawn of the digital age.

The details

OpenCHM provides multiple ways to explore the museum's holdings, including curated collections highlighting key items and a "Discovery Wall" that showcases artifacts selected by online visitors. While the item descriptions can be a bit sparse in the current beta version, the site still offers a wealth of material to peruse, from early computers and microcomputers to historic publications like Ted Nelson's visionary 1974 book "Computer Lib/Dream Machines", which predicted the rise of hypertext.

• The Computer History Museum launched the OpenCHM online portal in January 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Computer History Museum plans to continue expanding and enhancing the OpenCHM online portal, with the goal of providing an increasingly comprehensive digital experience for visitors who cannot physically visit the museum.