WEST CHESTER, PA — Eighty years after the unveiling of the world’s first electronic, general-purpose programmable digital computer, a West Chester museum is marking the moment many historians credit as the birth of the American computer revolution.
The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center will host a series of public events this month honoring the 80th anniversary of ENIAC, the pioneering machine built at the University of Pennsylvania and revealed to the public in February 1946.
Museum officials said the anniversary offers a chance to connect modern life — now shaped by computers embedded in everything from cars and phones to medical devices — to the early innovations that made today’s technology possible.
As part of the celebration, AHMEC will host two computer programming workshops for students ages 7 to 12, scheduled for February 14 and February 28 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The $35 workshops will introduce young students to the fundamentals of computing, tracing the evolution of computers from the early twentieth century to the present while offering hands-on experience with basic programming concepts.
Details and registration information for the workshops are available at https://www.helicoptermuseum.org/event-details/computer-programming-workshop-2026-02-14-13-00.
The centerpiece of the monthlong observance will take place Sunday, February 15, with ENIAC Day 2026, commemorating the original public unveiling of the groundbreaking computer. The event will be held both in person at the museum and online.
In-person admission includes the debut of a new special exhibit, ENIAC at 80: The American Computer Revolution, along with a speaker program from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and a reception from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Online participants will be able to view the speaker program live via Zoom.
More information and registration details for ENIAC Day are available at https://www.helicoptermuseum.org/event-details/eniac-day-celebration.
ENIAC, widely regarded as the first programmable, electronic, general-purpose digital computer, marked a turning point in technological history, laying the foundation for modern computing and reshaping science, industry, and daily life in the decades that followed.
The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center, located in West Chester, is a family-friendly institution dedicated to preserving the history of rotary flight. The museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of rotorcraft and interprets the legacy of aviation innovation in the birthplace of the helicopter industry.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.