Yes, yes, yes. This is a wonderful place. I visited it when it was just a shack on Moffett Field and now it's in the old SGI building.

If you are in the UK and can't make it to CA then a substitute is the National Museum of Computing: http://tnmoc.org/ It doesn't have the depth of the collection seen in Mountain View, but it does have some wonderful pieces. And the staff worked on the machines that are on display. Got the opportunity to show my SO core memory the other day.

They are currently restoring WITCH to working order: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WITCH_(computer) WITCH used the coolest memory ever: the dekatron (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekatron). Once WITCH is restored seeing those things glow and rotate is going to make it look like a computer ought to look.

Somewhat related, though the exhibits aren't as nice- The National Cryptologic Museum in Maryland. If nothing else, it's an excuse to venture on to the grounds at Ft. Meade.

When I visited a number of years back, there was a guy selling cell phones on a little folding table outside the front door. Which seemed...odd...for any number of reasons, given the location.

http://www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic_heritage/museum/

Agreed. That is also a great place. And if you like that sort of things there's always my book.

Seconded. The docents are, IMO, the most amazing thing about the museum. Incredibly knowledgeable, many of them were involved in making the machines on display. It's a truly wonderful place made more wonderful by the people who are involved.

I haven't been to the Computer History Museum (it's been years since I've been in the Bay area), but I did stop by the American Computer Museum in Bozeman, Montana once on a cross-country drive. For something literally stumbled across in a tour guide I was honestly impressed with the collection. It's worth a look if anyone is ever in the area.

http://www.compustory.com/

As someone who visits the Bay Area and doesn't have a car, how can I reach that museum via public transit? BART doesn't reach that far down in the west bay.

It's up Shoreline. You can take Caltrain to Mountain View and get a taxi from there.

Or post here and maybe someone will drive you.

Google Maps also includes a transit trip planner; enter endpoints as if driving then toggle to the railcar icon (among the car, railcar, walk, bike icons). From SFO to the Computer History Museum it suggests routes using a combination of BART, CalTrain, and VTA bus.

There are three bus stops within a 1 block radius.

Take Caltrain to get to the San Antonio station. Take VTA bus 40 on Showers St and get off on Shoreline.