Factsheet

Mission

The Tech Museum of Innovation ("The Tech") is an educational resource established to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in exploring and experiencing technologies affecting their lives, and to inspire the young to become innovators in the technologies of the future.

Exhibits

  • More than 250 exhibits, 97 percent of which are original or custom made
  • Host of blockbuster exhibits "BODY WORLDS 2 and The Three Pound Gem" and "Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future"
  • Online exhibits and activities from robotics to satellites
  • Hands-on exhibits explore genetics with our partners from the Department of Genetics at Stanford University, space exploration with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, clean energy, biotechnology and other sciences
  • New exhibits include: Tech Virtual Test Zone, and View from Space
  • Popular galleries include: Genetics: Technology with a Twist; Exploration, Earthquake platform, Jet Pack Simulator and Life Tech
  • Home of The Spirit of American Innovation, an exhibit about the National Medal of Technology, the nation's highest honor for technological innovation
  • Daily, original live stage shows that combine science fun with learning

Signature Programs

  • Tech Awards - The international awards program honors brilliant innovators from around the world who apply technology to benefit humanity
  • Tech Challenge - The annual team design challenge for youth in grades 5 through 12 reinforces the scientific process with a hands-on project to solve a real-world problem
  • Tech Virtual Test Zone - This new 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
  • Free Field Trips feature standards curriculum for schools and after-school programs
  • Summer camps - the ultimate camp experience, brought to you in partnership with Galileo Educational Services, offers 4th-8th graders hands-on science and technology classes, high-quality lab facilities, teamwork exercises, and fun in the best camp traditions

Education

  • The Robert N. Noyce Center for Learning supports K-12 education with outstanding design challenge activities, classes and teacher professional development
  • 4,000 square feet of educational media and science and technology labs
  • Hands-on Tech science labs
  • Online design-challenge lessons
  • Free museum membership for California K-12 public, private and home school teachers, principals and district employees

Outreach

  • ScholarShare Free Second Sunday - receive free admission on the 2nd Sunday of each month
  • Math Works - a bilingual math & science program geared toward Hispanic communities. Classes engage youth and their families and make learning a multi-generational experience

Visitors

  • More than 5 million visitors since opening new facility 10 years ago
  • Nearly 630,000 visitors in 2008
  • More than 140,000 visitors came from school groups, of which nearly 50,000 were from Title 1 schools

Budget & Staff

  • Total annual operating budget - $11 million
  • 90 total employees
  • More than 400 volunteers

Facilities

  • Total project cost - $113 million; $49million from the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Jose; $32 million raised through The Tech Capital Campaign; $32 million in equipment and services from more than 500 companies
  • Museum design architect is Ricardo Legorreta of Mexico City. The Steinberg Group of San Jose, CA, served as executive architects
  • 132,000-square-foot, three-level azure- and mango-colored building
  • 185-kilowatt photovoltaic solar panel system atop roof of Parkside Hall, supplementing energy supply by nearly 10 percent
  • 2,000-square-foot TechStore stocked with gift items, gadgets and books
  • 80-seat Café Primavera
  • 295-seat Hackworth IMAX DomeTheater, one of the top 10 attended in the United States. The theater houses a 9,000-square-foot perforated aluminum screen and a 12,000 watt, 6 channel, all digital surround-sound system
  • 45-foot cylindrical art piece, "Origin," designed by Beliz Brother, Brad Goldberg and Joseph McShane, stands in the museum's south atrium
  • A 16-foot-tall, 12-foot-long audio kinetic sculpture, "Science on a Roll," by George Rhoads stands at the museum's Park Avenue entrance

History

The idea for The Tech was little more than a dream back in 1978 when the Junior League of Palo Alto - and later the San Jose Junior League - struck upon a grand plan to create a dynamic learning center devoted to science and technology. Twelve years later, "The Garage" swung open its doors at downtown San Jose's former convention center on San Carlos Street and quickly became a valuable educational resource for children and young adults. Just eight years later, The Tech moved into a bigger, dazzling 132,000-square-foot mango-and-azure-colored domed building, unlike any other in the Silicon Valley or the world. The Tech has become a landmark for visitors seeking a glimpse of the most inventive place on Earth and a showcase of the latest blockbuster exhibits, high-tech gizmos and wondrous gadgets that continue to define Silicon Valley