{{Short description|Museum in Swindon, England}} {{distinguish|text=The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} thumb '''The Museum of Computing''' in Swindon, England (formally The Museum of Computing @ Swindon)<ref name="company">{{Cite web |title=The Museum Of Computing @ Swindon Limited |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04142794 |website=Companies House |access-date=28 November 2023}}</ref> is dedicated to preserving and displaying examples of early computers.<ref>[http://www.museumofcomputing.org.uk/ The Museum of Computing].</ref> It was the first United Kingdom museum exclusively dedicated to the history of computing, and opened in February 2003.<ref>[http://www.culture24.org.uk/am18444 The Museum of Computing], [http://www.culture24.org.uk/ Culture 24], UK.</ref>
==Aims== The museum aims to preserve the history of computing, to be used as a valuable educational resource and as an information repository for historians, collectors and the media, and to illustrate this history in an entertaining way.
==Exhibits== The museum includes working machines and interactive activities. The exhibitions have included the ''Pong to PlayStation'' exhibition.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/entertainment/days_out/computer_games.shtml Historic computer games go on show], BBC, 31 March 2004.</ref> More than thirty computers were lent to Gordon Laing, a former editor of ''Personal Computer World'' magazine, in connection with the writing of his 2004 book ''Digital Retro''.<ref name="slashdot lord 2004">{{cite web | url=http://books.slashdot.org/story/04/11/05/1950251/digital-retro | title=Digital Retro | work=Slashdot | accessdate=January 14, 2013 | author=Lord, Timothy}}</ref>
==Notable events== The exhibition "''Calculators from the Abacus to the Microchip''", was launched by Sir Clive Sinclair in March 2006.<ref>[http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=2&s=102&ss=112&c=5514&t=Computer+Museum+Counts+on+Sir+Clive Computer Museum Counts on Sir Clive], Swindon Web, 8 March 2006.</ref>
In April 2007, the museum was honoured by a visit from Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, patron of the British Computer Society.<ref>[http://www.blueclickpr.co.uk/news/news.php?story=288176 HRH Duke of Kent Visits the Museum of Computing in Swindon], [http://www.blueclickpr.co.uk/ Blue Click PR], 16 April 2007.</ref>
The museum moved to 6–7 Theatre Square in July 2009, between the library and the theatre.<ref>[http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=2&s=963&ss=968&c=5513&t=Game+on+for+Swindon+Computer+Museum Game on for Swindon Computer Museum], Swindon Web, 21 May 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.museumofcomputing.org.uk/contact.htm Contact Us], Museum of Computing.</ref>
In May 2010, the museum celebrated the 30th anniversary of the video game Pac-Man with a real life Pac-Man game and a special exhibition at the museum all day.<ref>[http://www.swindonweb.com/event/?m=40&c=7678&v=&em= Swindon celebrates Pac-Man's 30th anniversary], Swindon Web, 22 May 2010.</ref>
In March 2011, the 'Gaming on the Go' exhibition celebrated 35 years of the handheld games console.
==Structure== The Museum of Computing is a not-for-profit organisation, largely run by volunteers.<ref name="company" /> In 2022, the company had one employee and one director, Jeremy Holt.<ref>{{cite web |title=Unaudited Financial Statements |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04142794/filing-history/MzM5MTkwNDI4OGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=Companies House|date=31 January 2023 |access-date=28 November 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
{{coord|51.559071|-1.781118|type:landmark_region:GB-SWD|display=title}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Swindon Category:Computer museums in the United Kingdom Category:Museums established in 2003 Computing Computing