Permanent Exhibits
The Tech Challenge Gallery
How many of you are aware of The Tech Challenge? Well, The Tech Challenge is a program with a long tradition at The Tech Museum - beginning back in 1988. Once a year, fifth through twelfth graders gather at The Tech Museum for a day-long event in which they compete in teams with devices they have built to solve real-world problems. In the true Spirit of Silicon Valley, these teams are given the opportunity to create solutions, test their devices, sometimes fail, try again and learn during the process.
The Tech Challenge Gallery: Inspiring the Innovator in Everyone, the West Coast's only permanent exhibition featuring Bay Area students who use video to teach visitors a range of simple science concepts from magnetism to levers to circuitry.
The gallery, uniquely developed without labels, is the first of its kind to have students describe science principles in their own words. Visitors can test their own knowledge using twenty clever, hands-on exhibits.
Whether you're a child learning these concepts for the very first time or an adult eager to review his knowledge of science, this gallery is designed to communicate with people at all levels.
The gallery takes its name from The Tech Challenge, one of the museum's signature programs. The annual team challenge, for youth in grades 5-12, introduces and reinforces the scientific process with a hands-on project geared to solve a real-world problem.
The Tech Awards Gallery, Technology benefiting humanity
Each year through The Tech Awards program, we hear stories that radiate powerful streams of hope. These are the stories of The Tech Awards Laureates and will be showcased in this groundbreaking, 3,000-square-foot interactive exhibition.
The Tech Virtual Test Zone
This gallery showcases the world's first hands-on, interactive exhibits conceptualized and developed originally in the virtual world of Second Life by people from all over the world. Exhibits feature the theme of Art, Film & Music.
Green by Design
Learn about renewable energy sources, and how to harness and use energy more efficiently by visiting Green by Design. Hands-on experiences will show you how powerful wind, water and the sun can be! Go green!
NetPl@net
Try your strength in a virtual Arm Wrestle against museum visitors in New York or Alaska. Create your own character and chat online in a 3D world, publish your own webpage with pictures from your visit, tour the globe with worldwide webcams, and so much more!
The Spirit of American Innovation
Learn more about The National Medal of Technology and the Laureates who have received it! This permanent exhibit is now open in the building and online.
Life Tech Gallery
Experience the "how" of machines that keep us alive and explore technologies which enhance human performance. Ponder the debate about the applications and ethics in biotechnology.
Innovation Gallery
Become a Silicon Valley-style innovator. Use the inventions that made the area world-famous to design your own rollercoaster, and build a microchip.
Exploration Gallery
Shake in an earthquake, see under the sea, and use the gadgets that take us to places we have only been able to imagine.