The National Museum of Computing
Mission Statement of The National Museum of Computing
To bring to life the history and ongoing development of computing for inspiration, research, learning and enjoyment for the benefit of general and specialist publics of all ages.
In support of this we acquire, conserve, restore and reconstruct historic computing machinery for preservation, display, demonstration and research.
Emphasis is on British computing heritage and on ongoing British contribution to innovation and development.
Our distinctive approach is engagement through the display and demonstration of working historic systems.
We provide context through active education programmes, festivals, lectures, visitor activities, and interpreted exhibition and interactivity to raise awareness and inspire future generations of computer scientists, engineers and inventors.
The National Museum of Computing
The National Museum of Computing, located on Bletchley Park, is an independent charity housing the world's largest collection of functional historic computers, including the rebuilt Colossus, the world’s first electronic computer, and the WITCH, the world's oldest working digital computer. The museum enables visitors to follow the development of computing from the ultra-secret pioneering efforts of the 1940s through the large systems and mainframes of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and the rise of personal computing in the 1980s and beyond. The museum runs a highly successful Sandford awarded Learning Programme for schools and colleges and promotes introductions to computer coding amongst young people, especially females, to inspire the next generation of computer scientists and engineers.