The Living Computer Museum is tucked inside a nondescript concrete warehouse south of downtown Seattle.  The Living Computer Museum is tucked inside a nondescript concrete warehouse south of downtown Seattle.  Ian King is in charge of hunting down old computer equipment to stock the museum. He travels the globe in search of obscure, often huge, machines and parts.  Ian King is in charge of hunting down old computer equipment to stock the museum. He travels the globe in search of obscure, often huge, machines and parts.  Rich Alderson, who is helping get old computers up and running in the museum, holds a thick cable that connects to the decades-old machines.  Rich Alderson, who is helping get old computers up and running in the museum, holds a thick cable that connects to the decades-old machines.  Old computer gear lines the floor of the bare-bones museum. Mr. Allen's team is planning to expand and upgrade the museum over the next two years.  Old computer gear lines the floor of the bare-bones museum. Mr. Allen's team is planning to expand and upgrade the museum over the next two years.  The old machines aren't as streamlined as modern computers. Some have protruding dials and switches, all of which have to be carefully packed when the museum's team ships the gear from afar to its new home in the museum.  The old machines aren't as streamlined as modern computers. Some have protruding dials and switches, all of which have to be carefully packed when the museum's team ships the gear from afar to its new home in the museum.  Some of the old machines use reels and magnetic tape and look like they came straight off the set of an old science-fiction movie. Many of the old servers and other gear that dates back to the 1960s are up and running thanks to Mr. Allen's team.  Some of the old machines use reels and magnetic tape and look like they came straight off the set of an old science-fiction movie. Many of the old servers and other gear that dates back to the 1960s are up and running thanks to Mr. Allen's team.  Some of the old gear in Mr. Allen's museum has less computing power than a cellphone of today, despite its room-filling size and intricate circuitry.  Some of the old gear in Mr. Allen's museum has less computing power than a cellphone of today, despite its room-filling size and intricate circuitry.  Lights blink and the machines let off a loud hum, sights and sounds that make computer lovers nostalgic for the old days of computing.  Lights blink and the machines let off a loud hum, sights and sounds that make computer lovers nostalgic for the old days of computing.  The team restoring the computers take care to leave all traces of their past lives in place. They meticulously document every repair and even leave old notes in place from past users.  The team restoring the computers take care to leave all traces of their past lives in place. They meticulously document every repair and even leave old notes in place from past users.  Mr. Allen has a wish list of computers he's still seeking for his Living Computer Museum. Some in his current collection have been donated. His team has bought others from users who have rescued them from warehouses or from the scrap heap.  Mr. Allen has a wish list of computers he's still seeking for his Living Computer Museum. Some in his current collection have been donated. His team has bought others from users who have rescued them from warehouses or from the scrap heap.  The museum's theme is time-sharing computers, or computers that allow multiple users. The collection is on display for appointment-only visitors for now but workers are hoping to expand the museum in the next couple years.  The museum's theme is time-sharing computers, or computers that allow multiple users. The collection is on display for appointment-only visitors for now but workers are hoping to expand the museum in the next couple years.  Old disk drives could be as big as washing machines in some cases. Some of the machines in the museum weigh 1,500 pounds or more.  Old disk drives could be as big as washing machines in some cases. Some of the machines in the museum weigh 1,500 pounds or more.
Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Paul Allen's Living Computer Museum is an homage to a particular slice of computing's past.