Your Guide to Mimms Museum of Technology and Art in Atlanta

The Mimms Museum of Technology and Art (formerly called the Computer Museum of America) is one of the world’s largest collections of computers, technology, and artifacts from the Digital Revolution. Here’s what you need to know about visiting this unique museum.

Computer nerds will love this museum! Head to the Atlanta suburb of Roswell to see technology of our past, present, and the near future.

In this guide, I’ll give you the inside scoop on what you need to know about visiting the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art.

A special thanks to the staff of the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art for giving us a tour of the facility! As always, all opinions are my own.

About the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art

Tech-enthusiast Lonnie Mimms has been collecting computing history from hardware to software to prototypes for years. Just a fraction of his over 300,000-piece collection is on display at the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art (formerly the Computer Museum of America) in Roswell.

The Mimms Museum of Technology and Art opened in July 2019 as the Computer Museum of America. It’s opening coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing, and you’ll find an entire display dedicated to computers from the Space Race.

It’s currently the largest technology museum on the East Coast. With its plans to expand, it is set to become among the largest technology museums in the world.

The museum has many rare and valuable pieces on display, like a German Enigma machine from World War II, as well as the largest collection of vintage supercomputers in the world.

Explore the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art

The Mimms is full of interesting permanent exhibits that focus on technology and computing. You’ll see technology here that you won’t find anywhere else!

STEAM Timeline

The STEAM Timeline exhibit takes a look at our digital past, from the invention of the abacus to modern gaming systems. This timeline of the history of computers and technology is the perfect place to start your museum journey.

This exhibit takes you through the decades of technological history with a detailed timeline and artifacts like an original Apple 1, the RadioShack TRS80, and the Gameboy.

Retro Gaming Corner

In the Retro Gaming Corner, you can try your hand at some of your favorite old video games set up on their original gaming systems.

This fun, hands-on section also has a collection of retro arcade and pinball games.

Byte Wall Magazine Collection

The Mimms Museum of Technology and Art features a complete collection of Byte Magazine covers and special editions. The Byte Wall Magazine Collection is a beautiful display of each cover spanning the entire magazine’s lifespan.

Check out the intricate artwork from early publications, including two original Robert Tinney artwork covers.

A Tribute to Space Exploration

A Tribute to Space Exploration gives a brief history of the US Space Race, the Saturn V rocket, and our trek to the moon.

An animated documentary “Getting to the Moon and Back” details the Saturn V rocket launch, meanwhile dioramas set the scene from Apollos 11 through 17.

But the main attractions are the types of computers NASA used in getting us to the moon, like an IBM 3420, a front panel of an IBM 360, modular computer systems, an Apollo Ordinance Computer, and more.

Supercomputing

The Supercomputing exhibit illustrates how these machines impact our everyday lives, from reporting the weather to making films.

On display are more than 70 supercomputers like the Cray 1A, Pixar Image Computer, and Sun Microsystems. Take a look at the ranking of fastest super computers and see how far technology has come.

The Enigma Machine

The Mimms Museum of Technology and Art has an Enigma machine in near-perfect condition. This 3 rotor model on display was purchased in 1936 by the German army.

This is a rare and coveted piece. Of the 40,000 Enigma machines produced, less than 300 are believed to remain today.

The Art and Evolution of Chips

The Art and Evolution of Chips exhibit displays computer chips as art. You can see a beautiful collection of chips, including microscopic images of their surfaces so you can see their unique designs.

You’ll also learn about how computer chips are made, how they’ve evolved over time, and information about some of the most important chips in computer history.

The Card that Shaped Computing

The Card that Shaped Computing explores the history of the punch card, an early way to store data.

In this exhibit, you can watch a video on the history of the punch card, see a Jacquard Loom, and if you visit on the first Saturday of the month, you get to make your own punch card to take home with you! I highly recommend coming for the punch card demonstration on the first Saturday.

Things to Do at the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art

Attend Special Events and Programs

The Mimms Museum of Technology and Art offers plenty of special programs and events throughout the year. These include summer camps, story time for kids, book clubs, punch card machine demonstrations, recycle drives, late-night hours during the summer, an adults-only after-hours Bytes & Brews event, and more.

The museum also offers event spaces for corporate events, social gatherings, and conventions.

Find a Nerdy Memento at the Gift Shop

Take home a souvenir from your visit. The museum gift shop is located at the admission entrance and is open during museum hours.

Visiting the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art

Location: 5000 Commerce Pkwy, Roswell, GA 30076

Admission: Admission costs $18 for adults; $15 for seniors 65+, military with ID, and college students with ID; $12 for children ages 4-17; and free for children under 4.

Hours: The museum is open Thursdays-Fridays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission is 45 minutes before closing.

Parking: Parking is free.

Here are some important things to know when visiting the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art:

• No food or drinks are permitted in the museum except for sealable water bottles.
• Any oversized bags will have to remain at the admissions entrance until your visit is complete.
• You are allowed to take pictures and record video inside the museum. There are even a few selfie spots throughout the exhibits.

Mimms Museum of Technology and Art FAQ

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Cheers!

Paige

Are you planning on visiting the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art in Atlanta? Let me know in the comments!