Living Computers Museum to permanently close, auction vintage items

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Emotional response and significance of LCM

  • Many commenters describe the Living Computers Museum (LCM) as one of the best, most unique museums they’ve visited.
  • The hands-on nature (using a PDP-10, Xerox Alto, Apple I, NeXT, Lisp machines, consoles, etc.) is seen as irreplaceable compared with “look‑but‑don’t‑touch” museums.
  • Several people recall visiting shortly before COVID and say it felt vibrant and educational, especially for kids and students.

Why it’s closing & role of the Allen estate

  • Consensus: closure and auction are part of liquidating Paul Allen’s estate.
  • Some argue this follows explicit instructions: sell assets and donate proceeds to charity, except for a few specially provided institutions.
  • Others think Allen failed at succession planning and didn’t endow LCM (or other projects like the Cinerama), so shutdown is ultimately on him, not the executor.
  • A minority sees the executor as hostile or indifferent; others push back, framing it as duty, not spite.

Auctions, valuation, and preservation

  • The PDP‑10 (possibly one of very few working examples) draws particular attention; estimates of $30–50k are seen as low by enthusiasts but also reflect huge space, power, and cooling requirements.
  • Some argue parting out the collection may actually increase odds that key machines are preserved by serious collectors or other museums; others fear pieces will vanish into private hands or scrap.
  • Questions arise about whether donations should be returned rather than sold; reply: legally, donations can be deaccessioned.

Alternatives and missed opportunities

  • Many wish the Computer History Museum, universities, or rich tech figures (especially in Seattle or the Bay Area) would step in to buy or endow the collection; nothing like that appears to be happening.
  • Other computer/tech museums worldwide are mentioned as partial consolation, but none match LCM’s scale plus interactivity.

Broader themes: museums, collections, and legacy

  • Thread broadens into how fragile small and mid‑size museums are, and how passion projects die without endowments or institutional backing.
  • Multiple anecdotes describe personal or family collections (art, stamps, trains, vintage computers, phones, cap guns, high‑end audio) selling for a fraction of acquisition cost.
  • Takeaway: collect for love, not investment; if you want a collection or museum to outlive you, you must plan and fund it explicitly.