Hewlett-Packard garage given national landmark status

The garage where budding entrepreneurs Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard set up shop nearly 70 years ago has now been designated a national historic landmark, according to the company that now bears the pair's initials. Widely considered to be the birth of SIlicon Valley, the garage (along with the rest of the property) was snapped up by HP in 2000 to the tune of $1.7 million, and underwent an extensive restoration in 2004 -- apparently one of the steps necessary for it to gain landmark status. Those looking for a little inspiration still won't be able to walk up to the garage anytime they like, however, with HP saying that it'll continue to only open it up occasionally to visitors and special tours.

[Photo courtesy of Mercury News]

[paloooz @ May 18th 2007 1:35PM]

Pointless innane comment.

www.linktoblog.com

[Dan @ May 18th 2007 3:09PM]

I say we ship the little building to the Smithsonian Institute and be done with it.

[David @ May 18th 2007 3:16PM]

Well, as it turns out, Fairchild Semiconductor was the company that brought silicon based transistors and integrated circuits to the Valley, NOT HP. HP and the HP Foundation have been funding a lot of people which is probably largely why they got the honor. The founding members of Fairchild Semiconductor received a Commemorative Stamp for the Integrated Circuit WHILE many of the original founders are still living.


HP WAS USING TUBE TECHNOLOGY. WITHOUT FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR THERE WOULD NOT BE COMPUTERS AS WE KNOW THEM TODAY. KNOW YOUR HISTORY.

ALMOST EVERY SINGLE SEMICONDUCTOR MFG. in SILICON VALLEY STEMMED FROM FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR, NOT HP.

[Dan @ May 18th 2007 5:56PM]

Are we yelling here? Stop it. Unless you know the width and breadth of all history, hush. If Fairchild Ind hadn't happened upon it, SOMEbody else would have. Chill.

[Bruce Biganho @ May 18th 2007 5:50PM]

Does anyone know the address of this house. At least we can look it up on Google Earth.

[sendmeaeuro @ May 19th 2007 6:59AM]

Bruce: Head over here... http://cuturl.com?hp_garage

http://sendmeaeuro.awardspace.com

[Michael Gladman @ May 18th 2007 6:14PM]

Google earth? You're living in the past, it's all about http://maps.live.com now

www.mikeofnamgald.com

[Anderson @ May 20th 2007 4:27PM]

Every EE over 50 knows Fairchild put the "silicon" in Silicon Valley. I agree someone else would have brought ICs to the market sooner or later, but it certainly wouldn't have been HP. Alot of us are sick of reading HP promo BS about spawning SV.

[David @ May 19th 2007 12:51AM]

I don't mean to be rude, but the Valley is named SILICON Valley, not Tube, Valley, not Oscillator Valley, not Oscilliscope Valley, not Computer Valley, but SILICON Valley. Texas Instruments developed the IC using Germanium, not Silicon.

Boy are you pretty dumb. The Valley was coined the phrase Silicon Valley based on the Semiconductor industry, which Fairchild pretty much perfected, got the patents and created the basis for pretty much any chip with Silicon used.

HP pretty much paid money to the Historical Society, various Governors, etc. to get the award and to keep the notoraity. Now, was HP in Palo Alto before Fairchild? Yes, but they didn't create any Silicon technology that is responsible for pretty every single thing that has an IC or transistor in it.

Have a great day.

[David @ May 19th 2007 12:59AM]

The award is not supposed to based on charitable donations, it is not supposed to be be based on ow successful a company HP is, it is not supposed to be based on how much money HP has given to various Governor's. It is supposed to be based on who brought Silicon technology to the valley. PERIOD. it is supposed to be earned, not bought. HP tainted this award by giving money and pressuring the Government to give them the award and for keeping the award. This is nothing personal with the original founders, it has to do with the Integrity of who brought Silicon technology, which was Fairchild and how ridiculous the Government, the various Historical Societies, and HP has pretty much tainted the birthplace.

If this concept is beyond your comprehension of understanding, then I really can't help you. Maybe you should take up knitting in an Insane Asylum.

it is pretty cut and dry.

[mark @ May 19th 2007 8:48AM]

I wonder if the site in Waltham MA near the Cambridge reservoir where HP contaminated the groundwater will become a national landmark?

[The ZeroCorpse @ May 19th 2007 1:49PM]

It's. A. GARAGE.

What about preserving the automobile in which Bill Gates was conceived, too?

[Satish @ May 19th 2007 2:18PM]

What purpose would hidden mics serve =|?

[seth itzkan @ May 19th 2007 8:22PM]

Hi,

I'm not sure why there is a debate here (can't we all just get along).

The designation of the garage where Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard setup shop in 1939 as a national historic site is warranted, in my opinion, and does not in anyway distract from the technical and market related contributions make by Fairchild Semiconductor and others.

Of course Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard were not operating in a vacuum (pun intended). No inventor ever is, and the tech industry, going back to Bell, Edison, and including Jobs and Gates, is ripe with individuals who have made great success on the shoulders of other people's inventions.

The fact that HP is not the company that actually brought silicon to Silicon Valley is irrelevant. The term Silicon Valley is just a moniker invented by a journalist. It was never meant to be a specific technical term. HP's garage is not memorialized for any specific type of technology, and whether or not the valley is called Silicon Valley or Tube Valley is immaterial. HP's garage is memorialized because of the explosion of innovation and technological growth that they helped spearhead. Of course other technology invented by other people, such as integrated circuits, was a key ingredient that they put to good use. And yes, it is wrong to loose site of those great contributions. The solution, in my opinion, is not to criticize the recognition given to HP's earlier days, but to also find ways to properly share the honors with all deserving parties.

Here are some helpful URLs:

Silicon Valley History
http://www.websofinnovation.com/svhistory.htm

Fairchild Semicondunctor History
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Semiconductor

[wg.1001 @ May 20th 2007 1:50AM]

Seth,

You said that incredibly well.

I tried to get that overall point across with my "I don't debate Fairchild's importance but i really don't doubt the impact Hewlett and Packard has had and continues to have on Silicon Valley."

I didn't know that HP's garage hit David's hot button.

Oh well, I didn't mean to start and/or egg-on a disagreement. Sorry.

I'll just end by saying David is an idiot.

:)

[rs91 @ May 18th 2007 11:05PM]

If you step it back even further, if we didn't have electricity then Fairchild wouldn't have invented ICs. Maybe Franklin deserves credit for silicon valley. Heck, step back even further, and who knows who you could credit.

If my quick research is right, Fairchild barely beat Texas Instruments in developing ICs.

The point is Hewlett and Packard did create an amazing successful company that has been tremendously successful over the years and still is today. Like all companies, it has ups and downs, but over time, HP is tough to beat. Hewlett and Packard created a legacy of invention and creativity and a company that helped create a backbone for silicon valley to grow and prosper. Their enormous charitable donations to the area are to be commended.

Fairchild started in the mid 50s while Hewlett and Packard formed their partnership in 1939 and their later incorporated in 1947.

I don't debate Fairchild's importance but i really don't doubt the impact Hewlett and Packard has had and continues to have on Silicon Valley.

[David @ May 19th 2007 1:24AM]

Right on! Finally, someone with a brain..... Thanks!!

[Perrey Z. @ May 21st 2007 2:09AM]

Better than preserving the farm and the cows Ted Waitt owned that inspire him to create Gateway.,Hmm those cows became juicy steaks many "mooooons" ago., Yum!