The Computer Church – Pennsylvania Computer and Technology Museum

(thecomputerchurch.org)

57 points | by gregsadetsky 3 days ago ago

15 comments

  • shrubble 2 days ago ago

    If you’re near Pittsburgh the Large Scale Systems Museum is definitely worth a visit. Working PDP11, VAXes, SGI, IBM midrange and mainframe systems can be booted up and used.

    The second floor has smaller micros and Macs; not sure if there’s a working NeXT machine or not.

    https://lssmuseum.org/

  • imwally 2 days ago ago

    I had no idea this existed and it’s not too far from me. This is cool as hell.

    • ComputerChurch 7 hours ago ago

      We are not officially open yet but if you're interested in visiting, please send me an email or give us a call and we'll arrange a time for your visit. TheComputerChurch.org

    • JoeDaDude 2 days ago ago

      Same here, and I've lived very close to their location for... well, decades now and had no idea this existed.

      Maybe one reason is that you can't just walk in. "If you wish to see the collection, we can arrange an appointment. "

      • dillera 2 days ago ago

        it's super easy- just call. I've done it twice.

  • madcaptenor 2 days ago ago

    In Parkesburg, Chester County, a bit west of Philadelphia. (Mentioning this because we hugged it to death.)

    • ComputerChurch a day ago ago

      We survived the hugs (see below). I hope you get a chance to come by... we have an ESIAC (electronic science incorporated algebraic computer) analog computer and lots of graph paper that might interest you.

  • ComputerChurch a day ago ago

    Thanks for finding us and pointing us out to others, Greg. If you're ever in the area I'd be happy to give you a tour. We are working to get the collection items online!

  • doctor_radium 2 days ago ago

    I am also not very far away, and used to find myself driving through Parkesburg sometimes. Had no idea it was there! My first computers were user-friendly TRS-80 Model 1's (school) and my C64, so just missed the 1970's and earlier generations. Will look into a visit in 2026!

    • ComputerChurch a day ago ago

      Driving through Parkesburg usually takes a little less than thirty seconds, unless you get stuck behind an Amish carriage. Feel free to contact us about arranging a tour. We look forward to seeing you.

  • abeyer 2 days ago ago

    Looks fun, but dunno if they can call themselves _the_ computer church, tho. https://www.google.com/search?q=Voorhees+Computing+Center

    • ComputerChurch a day ago ago

      Point well taken, Abeyer. We are just a simple church building...but RPI's beautiful Voorhees Center looks more like "The Computer Cathedral". If you are ever in our area, come visit us.

  • broswell 2 days ago ago

    It is worth the visit!

  • RattlesnakeJake 2 days ago ago

    Looks like we hugged it to death

    • ComputerChurch a day ago ago

      I appreciate your hugs... Luckily they were not fatal. It turns out that once I paid our hosting company twice as much, they intubated us and expanded our airway. If you're ever in the area, and we can arrange a time, I'd be happy to give you a tour. And if it's all the same to you, let's limit ourselves to handshakes, I've very recently learned that too many hugs can have unintended consequences.