History of the Museum

The Computer Museum of America was established in 1983 by Jim and Marie Petroff, founders of the San Diego Chapter of Independent Computer Consultants Association (ICCA).

While without a display space in its early years, through the efforts of a tireless band of volunteers the Museum continued to collect and preserve historic computer equipment, as well as display portions of its collection every year at the California Computer Expo (formerly the San Diego Computer Fair).

The Petroffs' generous underwriting during those early years allowed the Museum to obtain and maintain storage facilities throughout San Diego County as it accumulated one of the world's largest collections of historic computing equipment.

In 1992, Coleman College invited the Museum to exhibit a portion of its collection on the grounds of the school's La Mesa campus, beginning a fruitful partnership between the College and the Museum that culminated in the Coleman Foundation taking over operation of the Museum.