HP Garage

A cool part of Silicon Valley history that’s actually commemorated with a plaque. And don’t let the garage part fool you. It’s attached to a really really nice house so you know that this company was started with money.
It’s not open so there’s not much too look at except the plaque and the garage door down the long drive.

I remember the first time I visited the «Birthplace of Silicon Valley». At the time, I was still living in Australia, longing for an opportunity to ply my craft in clearly the most exciting place for someone in the tech industry to be. It sat behind black powder coated gates, an apparent concession to the privacy of the current residents at the expense of a few rather odd tourists. I looked upon it with the hope and naivety that I would like to think Hewlett and Packard had when they first decided to start something new.
As an epicenter for change, Palo Alto exists as a contradiction, with its dated outward façade hiding much of the high tech advancement that goes on behind closed doors. It exists within tight controls, designed to keep it much the same through regulations not dissimilar to those its companies often flout in the name of ‘disruption’. Palo Alto was even the site for overt racism and segregation, keeping non-​white people out, before being replaced by far more insidious economics that so often produce the same ends.
Companies of the valley have changed over time, people became customers and users, and, eventually indecipherable acronyms or the unlabeled axis on a growth chart. Focus shifted from building products to conversion metrics, funding rounds, vesting schedules and free lunches.
Hewlett and Packard both died long ago, soon enough to avoid seeing what the valley has become, albiet not soon enough to avoid seeing HP turned into exactly the company that their professor cautioned them not to join.
There was a purity in the garage, an imperfect space not intended for its final purpose. The garage stands as a window into the past, apparently ignorant of the reality that time corrupts all.
Today, as I stared at the faded green doors, I dreamed of recapturing that ignorance.

This is a cool piece of Silicon Valley history. I like how clean it is. My reason for 3 stars is, only because this isn’t a very interactive site. You just roll up and take a couple of pictures and then move on. Doesn’t mean I dislike it.
It is moving to see how a little garage changed the world. I have a lot of pride on the nerds that rule the bay.

It’s a two-​minute visit for people who are interested to peek (from the street) at the birthplace of HP.

Cool historic site. The sign helps, otherwise, you would walk right past it. Good destination for a bike ride.

Gotta love this place. It’s such an important Silicon Valley monument. I’m glad HP decided to rebuild it several years ago so all our future generations can still see this key piece of our tech industry’s history.
Long live Hewlett-​Packard Company.

When I was at the museum of American Heritage we asked about the HP Garage and the lady knew where it was and it was walking distance from there. Ok, I know I got lots of time on my hand but it’s neat to see a Historical Site!
It’s along a quiet, tree-​lined residential neighborhood and there is a gate in front of the garage so you can’t get close. You can only take pictures from the sidewalk and get close to the plaque for the California Registered Landmark No. 976.
This 12×18 ft building was where college friends Bill Hewlett & Dave Packard started their company HP. The garage was dedicated as the Birthplace of Silicon Valley in 1989 and the property was acquired by HP in 2000.
Respect the privacy of the neighbors in the area if you visit.
My pics above.
Website I found: