The Intel Museum is based in the headquarters of the company itself, in Santa Clara. This is a rare opportunity to see inside the workings of a successful Silicon Valley establishment. Although tech fans will be in their element at the Intel Museum, it's also insightful enough for anyone to enjoy. That said, some displays do contain jargon that may prove a challenge to tech novices. The museum is small, and can be covered in around an hour.
Explore the history of Intel, which was founded in 1968 by Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce. Learn how their forward-thinking attitude led to what became a revolution in technology, at displays dedicated to their work.
See examples of early Intel products, such as the minuscule microprocessor, which was unveiled in 1971 this was one of the major steps towards dispensing with the giant computers which filled whole rooms and buildings. The original IBM PC, an Intel 8080 microprocessor, and an Intel IN-10 Memory Board will also be of interest to those in awe of how quickly the industry has progressed.
Take a look at the automated clean rooms, where processors are manufactured today, to see how the industry has come on in leaps and bounds. Check out current Intel products in the knowledge that in no time at all, they will merely be another part of the company's rapidly-accruing history.
The Intel Museum can be explored unaccompanied, but you will get more out of it with a guided tour, especially if you’re part of a large group. Booking ahead for tours is essential. Call in at the gift shop on the way out for novelty items such as memory sticks and microchip key rings.
The Intel Museum is open Monday through to Saturday, and entry is free. By bus from central San Jose, the journey takes about an hour. Free parking is available on site.
