You can browse the Computer History Museum’s online collection for free through OpenCHM, its digital portal for global access. Think of it as a virtual ticket, not a promise that every object in the museum has been digitized: CHM says it is still adding material to its online catalog.
Where to browse the Computer History Museum online
Start with OpenCHM, announced by the Computer History Museum (CHM) on January 21, 2026. CHM describes it as a digital portal providing global access to the museum’s collection. For browsing, the museum’s collections page points to its online catalog and describes custom folders for organizing material.
The catalog is a growing digital record, not a complete online replica of the museum’s holdings. CHM says it is continually adding digitized material. Its collection includes objects and records such as machines, source code, lab notebooks, and business plans, but a catalog entry should not be taken to mean that a complete digital version of every item is available to view.
Take a curated virtual tour of computing history
If you would rather follow a guided story than search a catalog, CHM’s Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing exhibit can be experienced online or in person. Its virtual tour features 31 artifacts and stories. That is a selected tour, not the full exhibition or the entire collection.
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CHM describes the physical Revolution exhibition as spanning 25,000 square feet, with 19 galleries and 1,100 objects. Separately, its virtual-tour description says the tour draws from an exhibition with more than 1,000 unique artifacts. Those figures describe the exhibit in different contexts; neither is a count of the museum’s whole collection.
What “free” covers—and what may cost extra
CHM says access to research materials is free, but that does not make every research service or form of access free. The museum lists possible processing fees for digitization, use, software emulation, and access to large artifacts. Ask CHM about applicable fees for your request before planning around a service.
There is also an important practical limit for original devices: CHM says operating collection computers and devices is strictly prohibited. Access to artifacts is limited to on-site inspection at a separate storage facility, rather than remote operation.
Request access to original materials
For work that requires original documents or other research assistance, use CHM’s Research Archives and Collections Access information. The Shustek Research Archives is normally open Tuesday through Thursday by appointment. CHM asks researchers seeking an on-site visit to submit a request at least three weeks in advance. Archive research and artifact access are distinct: artifacts are inspected on site at a separate storage facility, subject to the museum’s restrictions.
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- Browse first: Search OpenCHM and the online catalog to identify relevant records or collection material.
- Decide what you need: A digitized item may be enough for remote research; original materials or a service request may require advance planning.
- Contact CHM through its access information: Request an appointment at least three weeks ahead for on-site archival research, and ask about any fees that may apply to digitization, use, emulation, or large-artifact access.
Which route should you choose?
| Route | Best for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| OpenCHM and the online catalog | Remote browsing of digitized collection material | Global online access to a catalog that CHM continues to expand; not every item is necessarily digitized or represented by a complete digital object. |
| Revolution virtual tour | A curated introduction to computing history | A virtual experience with 31 artifacts and stories, rather than a tour of the whole collection. |
| On-site archive or collection research | Research involving original materials, artifacts, or museum services | Research access is free, but some services may incur processing fees; appointments, advance notice, separate locations, and artifact-use restrictions apply. |
Announcing OpenCHM, CHM President and CEO Marc Etkind said, “OpenCHM is designed to inspire discovery, spark curiosity, and make the stories of the digital age more accessible to everyone, everywhere,” and, “We’re unlocking the collection for new audiences to explore.” The announcement is dated January 21, 2026.
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