Silicon Valley is home to technology giants such as Facebook, Google, and Apple. The humble garage from which William Hewlett and David Packard started developing the famous HP computer brand, is regarded by many as the “birthplace” of Silicon Valley. If you are interested in seeing such a site, as well as many other places of interest in the world of technology, head to Silicon Valley. Here are some interesting places to see.
Googleplex
A popular sightseeing destination in Silicon Valley is the Googleplex headquarters and campus of this search engine and information giant. Unfortunately, there are no Googleplex or Google campus tours available, and you can only gain access to campus buildings if you are escorted by an employee.
If you should have a friend who works there and you can gain entry, check out the multicolored bicycles that “Googlers” use to get between campus buildings, as well as strange works of art, such as a life-size Tyrannosaurs Rex skeleton, sometimes adorned with pink, plastic flamingos, and a collection of stone busts depicting celebrities and scientists. There is also an on-campus Google merchandise store, jumbo cartoon figures representing each version of the Android operating system, and a sand volleyball court.
Googleplex is located at 1600 Amphitheater Parkway, Mountain View.
Computer History Museum
Find out about the history of computers at this museum, and the surprising similarities between innovations in our distant history and the technology of today. The museum showcases many different and exciting exhibitions, such as “Revolution: The First 2,000 Years of Computing,” which features 19 galleries, 1,100 objects, and multimedia experiences that chronicle the history of computing from the abacus to the smartphone. “Where to? A History of Autonomous Vehicles” is an exhibition about the decades-long challenge of bringing self-driving cars to the public.
The museum also exhibits the world’s largest collection of artifacts relating to the history of computing, including hardware, software, documents, photos, and moving images. Interesting talks are regularly presented at the museum, as well as educational programs.
Computer History Museum is located at 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View.
Intel Museum
This museum provides interactive exhibits, guided tours, and hands-on classes in the Learning Labs, in order to connect people with the technologies that shape their modern world. Free field trips are available for students, during which they are taught the history of the Intel microprocessor, silicon chip design, and chip fabrication.
The Intel Museum is located at 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara.
NASA’s Ames Research Center
This center has played an important part in NASA’s research into space technology and is a key facility for many of its missions and projects. The public is allowed into the Ames Visitor Center, where they can learn more about the work that is done here. Current exhibitions include “Science on Sphere,” which offers visitors a new look at the planets of the universe, and “Kepler,” which gives visitors the chance to learn about the Kepler mission that is designed to survey our region of the Milky Way.
The Ames Research Center is located at Moffett Field, Mountain View.
If you are a computer geek, or just interested in technological innovations or history, Silicon Valley is just the place for you.
Photo by rjshade | Licensed under cc BY 2.0
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