Welcome to our in-depth look at the closure and auction of Paul Allen's Living Computers Museum + Labs. This unique institution in Seattle showcased vintage computing technology and interactive displays, but has now permanently closed its doors.

The museum was created by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who had a passion for preserving and showcasing the history of computing.

Let's take a look at the history of the Living Computers Museum + Labs.

The Living Computers Museum + Labs was opened in 2012 by Paul Allen as a hands-on showcase for rare computing technology and interactive displays.

The museum allowed visitors to interact with vintage computers like the Commodore 64 and Apple II, providing historical context and educational opportunities.

The museum's website also hosted online emulations of retro computers, which will now be operated by SDF.org.

Now, let's discuss the closure of the museum and the upcoming auction of its collection.

The estate of Paul Allen, managed by his sister Jody Allen, confirmed that the museum will not reopen and that its collection will be auctioned off by Christie's later this year.

The auction, titled 'Gen One: Innovations from the Paul G. Allen Collection,' will feature over 150 items from Allen's collection.

One notable item is the DEC PDP-10: KI-10, the first computer used by both Allen and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, estimated to fetch $30,000 to $50,000.

Another highlight is a 1939 signed letter from Albert Einstein to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, estimated to fetch $4 million to $6 million.

The closure of the museum has sparked various concerns and reactions.

"I don’t know what I’d do with it besides ‘someday’ sorting and piecing it out on eBay." - Bob Powell, 2024

"Hopefully the items being auctioned will find loving homes, ideally at other museums and with collectors who aren’t afraid to keep the educational spirit of LCM+L alive." - Hackaday, 2024

Here's a timeline of key events related to the museum.

2012: Living Computers Museum + Labs opens in Seattle.

2018: Paul Allen passes away.

2020: The museum closes temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: The estate of Paul Allen auctions off 155 masterpieces from Allen's art collection, raising a record $1.62 billion.

2024: The museum is confirmed to be permanently closed, and its collection is announced to be auctioned off by Christie's.

In conclusion, the closure of Paul Allen's Living Computers Museum + Labs marks the end of an era, but its legacy will live on through the auction of its unique collection.

"It is a testament to the uniqueness and importance of these objects that one of the greatest innovators of our day collected, preserved, and in dozens of cases, restored them, while both drawing his own inspiration from them and sharing many of them publicly." - Marc Porter, 2024