HomeCollections and ResearchThemed CollectionsHistory of Microsoft

History of Microsoft

Microsoft, a multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington, was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company moved to Bellevue, Washington in 1979 and incorporated in 1981. Microsoft has grown to become the world’s largest software maker, a leader in cloud enterprise technology, and an important force in the Puget Sound Region. Explore stories from the company’s history through items from MOHAI’s collections.

Image of Microsoft Windows software, 1992-1995
Image of Production worker Steve Taylor at Aldus checking packages of PageMaker, June 1, 1987
Image of Nippon Electric Company (NEC) PC-8201A digital computer, ca. 1983
Image of Steve Duzan, Bob Nowinski and Bill Gates at Technology Northwest II symposium, February 27, 1987
Image of Atari 800 personal computer, ca. 1979, owned by Ric Weiland, one of the Microsoft's first employees
Image of Bill Gates and Melinda French at a basketball game at the Kingdome, Seattle, March 23, 1993
Image of Atari 810 disk drive, ca. 1980, owned by Ric Weiland, one of Microsoft's first employees
Image of Bill Gates in his office at Microsoft, January 1984
Image of Atari 850 interface module, ca. 1980, owned by Ric Weiland, one of Microsoft's first employees
Image of Bill Gates at a meeting of financial analysts at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, July 25, 1991
Image of TV to Game Switchbox used on an Atari Computer 800, ca. 1980
Image of Microsoft campus, Redmond, 1991
Image of Microsoft poster celebrating the company's 10-year anniversary, 1985
Image of Paul Allen in his office, Bellevue, circa 1990
Image of Atari Assembler Editor Computing Language cartridge, 1979
Image of Tim Paterson, original author of MS-DOS, Tukwila, February 10, 1986
Image of Atari Basic Computing Language cartridge, ca. 1980
Image of Francis J. Gaudette and Mike Maples announcing shipment of Windows 3.1 at Sea-Tac Airport, March 18, 1992
Image of Commodore 64 computer, with manuals and accessories, ca. 1982
Image of Charlotte Guyman, director of marketing for Microsoft consumer division, September 1993
Image of Osborne 1 portable computer, with manuals and accessories, ca. 1981
Image of Dave Walter, Jeremy Jaech, and Ted Johnson meeting about Axon, Seattle, October 19, 1990
Image of First generation, limited edition, Zune portable media player, 2006
Image of Gordon Letwin, lead designer for systems software at Microsoft, Redmond, December 1986
Image of Compact disc,
Image of Skid-steer loader clearing grounds for new Microsoft plant, Bothell, December 30, 1987
Image of Product box,
Image of Nancy Lofurno readying Microsoft product shipments, Bothell, December 19, 1991
Image of Box light
Image of Charles Simonyi, February 7, 1991
Image of Brushed aluminum Microsoft sign, ca. 2000
Image of Carl Stork with Microsoft demonstration disk, Redmond, February 1987
Image of Visio software company neon-lighted building sign, ca. 1995
Image of Edward Wang and his family in Redmond, February 1989
Image of Visio product box,
Image of Bill Gates at Microsoft Campus, Redmond, January 22, 1991
Image of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device,
Image of Bill Gates at Microsoft Campus, Redmond, January 22, 1991
Image of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device,
Image of Microsoft campus, March 10, 1991
Image of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device,
Image of David Cole of Microsoft with pickup truck, Redmond, February 15, 1995
Image of First Windows Mobile Phone,
Image of William Gray, head of the United Negro College Fund, at Microsoft, October 26, 1995
Image of Prototype Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phone, ca. 2003
Image of Bill Gates and Priscilla Wong at Minority Student Day at Microsoft, Redmond, October 26, 1995
Image of Prototype Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phone, ca. 2003
Image of Jerry Dyer working at Microsoft's Redmond campus, June 25, 1996
Image of Windows Mobile Smartphone, ca. 2003
Image of Ben Slivka of Microsoft, August 9, 1996
Image of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device,
Image of Bill Gates and Microsoft executives on panel at conference, Redmond, October 10, 1996
Image of Microsoft Zune HD and AV digital audio player, 2009
Image of Visio president Jeremy Jaech, Seattle, March 21, 1997
Image of Clear Plexiglas sign for MSNBC, 1996
Image of Ku-Tee Yah Dancers, Redmond, May 16, 1997
Image of Microsoft Typing Tutor II for the Apple II 5.25
Image of Bill Gates and Jim Allchin with Windows XP discs, Redmond, August 24, 2001
Image of Product package for Microsoft
Image of Microsoft programmers applauding completion of Windows XP, Redmond, August 24, 2001
Image of Microsoft
Image of Mary Snapp and Brad Smith, Microsoft compliance officers, Redmond, Washington, August 2002
Image of Microsoft GLEAM T-shirt, white with pink triangle design, 1993
Image of Bill Gates and Paul Allen at Sonics-Portland game, Seattle, March 11, 2003
Image of Microsoft GLEAM T-shirt, white with
Image of Ric Weiland's Microsoft business card, circa 1986
Image of Microsoft GLEAM T-shirt, white with stick figures, 1995
Image of Ric Weiland's Microsoft business card, circa 1980
Image of Microsoft GLEAM T-shirt, black with
Image of Microsoft business card, circa 1980
Image of TRS-80 Model 100 portable computer and peripherals, ca. 1983
Image of Ric Weiland's Microsoft business card, circa 1975
Image of Navajo vase by artist Mary Saxon that was in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, apartment shared by the individuals who started Microsoft in the 1970s
Image of Bill Gates and Paul Allen at Microsoft offices, Bellevue, 1981
Image of Xbox 360 S console and controllers, 2012
Image of Bill Gates speaking to students at Microsoft, February 10, 2000
Image of Bill Gates with students at Microsoft, February 10, 2000

Land Acknowledgement

MOHAI stands on the historic and contemporary lands and shores of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Coast Salish Nations. We acknowledge the forced displacement of Native Communities from this land while honoring the endurance of the Duwamish people who still live here.
Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle WA, 98109
Phone: 206 324 1126

Copyright 2026, Museum of History & Industry. All Rights Reserved