YouTube's First Video Acquired by London Museum

The 19-second clip of YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim at the zoo has been viewed over 382 million times.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has acquired a reconstructed early YouTube webpage and the platform's first video ever uploaded, titled "Me at the zoo." The 19-second clip shows then-25-year-old YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo commenting on the elephants' long trunks. The video has been viewed over 382 million times on YouTube since it was posted in 2005.

Why it matters

The acquisition of YouTube's first video by a prestigious museum like the V&A highlights the cultural significance and historical importance of the platform, which has transformed the way people create and consume content online over the past two decades.

The details

The V&A's digital conservation team spent 18 months rebuilding the design and experience of the YouTube platform from December 8th, 2006, which is the oldest timestamp documented online. The museum's acquisition of the first YouTube video and a reconstructed early version of the platform aims to preserve an important piece of internet history.

  • YouTube was officially founded on Valentine's Day in 2005.
  • The first video, "Me at the zoo," was uploaded on April 23, 2005.

The players

Jawed Karim

One of the three co-founders of YouTube, who appeared in the first video uploaded to the platform in 2005.

Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)

A prestigious museum in London that has acquired a reconstructed early YouTube webpage and the platform's first video ever uploaded.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The acquisition of YouTube's first video by the V&A museum underscores the cultural and historical significance of the platform, which has fundamentally changed the way people create and consume content online over the past two decades.