HOW TO: Make A Geek Pilgrimage
June 3rd, 2007I wrote this post thinking about what I would do if I had was making a religious endeavour to the Wondrous Silicon Valley. Considering that Silicon Valley is one of, if not the greatest Technologically affluent area in the World, I created a list of things that you HAVE to do here to get the most out of your visit.
I repeat, you cannot be accepted into the geek community if you haven’t done these things. However, I know that the list was cut a little short. I will most likely make it a permanent page on the site depending on the response that I get.
Museums – The Heart of Learning
The Computer History Museum – ” The Computer History Museum is the world’s largest and most significant history museum for preserving and presenting the computing revolution and its impact on the human experience.” It’s fellows include such people as Steve Wozniak, the founder of Apple, Ken Thompson, the co-creator of *nix and the C programming Language.
The Tech Museum - Sounds imposing, eh? THE Tech Museum, meaning that it is the premier source for legit technology. I used to go there as a little kid, and I was enthralled by exhibits such as the life-size clean room/chip fab (“fab” means Fabricator, not fabulous).
The HP Garage – The small building where one of the greatest and biggest computing behemoths was born. A monument to the start of computers and the beginning of a hella legit computer company. I know some of you have at least one. It is also California Registered Landmark No. 976. O, Right! AKA: “Birthplace of Silicon Valley.”
Companies That You NEED Pics Of (Their Signs that is.)
Google - Yes, yes, Google is 5 minutes from my house. I want to take this time to correct them. Google should be spelled Googol. But, seeing that they were Computer Science students, and not English majors, I will give them the benefit of the doubt. Props for being an amazing example of the triumph of technology.
Address: 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043
Meebo - The online chatter that I am sure some of you use to chat with your friends. It is an example of a great web 2.0 idea that helps people chat, without letting their bosses know. On Castro Street, only 5 minutes away from Google, and the Computer History Museum. Hint: Kill three birds with one stone.
Address: 215 Castro Street, 3rd Floor, Mountain View, CA 94041
Facebook - Perhaps the best designed social networking site. It is based in Palo Alto, and you can go get a picture of yourself at their offices!
Address: 471 Emerson St. , Palo Alto, CA
Apple – iBook. iPod. iWork. Yes, the company that brought you all of these well designed, albeit expensive products is in Silicon Valley, where it started. Although Wozzie doesn’t work there anymore, the charismatic, although mean in real life, Steve Jobs still works at the underdog. I once saw him at the grand opening of the Stanford Apple Store
Address: 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014
P.S. This post is dedicated to Christian Montoya, and Paul Stamatiou, seeing how they mentioned their plans to come to the Bay Area in their posts/twitters. Hopefully, they will read this article and feel inspired.
Wow, a post dedicated to me! I’ll have to check out some of that stuff… I need to make the best of my 2 months here.
While I haven’t visited any of those museums, I have visited Google, Apple, Facebook and worked at Yahoo… what does that get me? ;-)
Thank you for that informative post. It reallly gave me a good plan for my future trips to the Silicon Valley.
@Stammy: The Computer History Museum is a great museum, if you are into History AND Technology. I highly recommend it.
@Omer: Sarcasm rocks! But..I am wondering, have you been to all of those places?
In addition to what’s posted, the Tech Museum has an IMAX theater.
Whatever happened to the Metreon? Omer and I visited it while we were in the city and it seemed to have been turned into a standard shopping center.
I haven’t been to the Metreon for some time. It used to be fun though.
Note: Add Metreon to the list.
This is why i want a driver’s privileges.
Ah yes. I’ve done the tour of the valley. Google is actually in an old SGI building that was part of their huge HQ complex. My brother used to work for SGI and was there when they built it. The building they bought was SGI building #42 and Google has kept the number (presumably as an homage to Douglas Adams).
Another interesting place to visit is Microsoft HQ in Redmond, Washington. Love ‘em or hate ‘em their HQ is massive. It’s the size of a college campus, with four story buildings lining both sides of _their_ street.
I’m going to be working for Accenture when I get out to The City. Not quite as cool as Google or Facebook, but they do have the top floors of the Spear Tower at 1 Market Street in San Francisco. It’s quite a view.
By the way, iWork is not overpriced.