Technology
Computer History Museum Receives Transformational Gifts Honoring John W. Walker, Cofounder of Autodesk
The combined gifts totaling $14 million will transform the computer graphics gallery while preserving and making John Walker’s collection accessible and create the endowed John and Roxie Walker Exhibit Series to bring topical, engaging exhibits to the Museum.Mountain View, California, July 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Computer History Museum (CHM) today announced two transformative gifts totaling more than $14 million to honor John W. Walker, cofounder, first president of Autodesk and the co
About this update from Autodesk, Inc.
The combined gifts totaling $14 million will transform the computer graphics gallery while preserving and making John Walker's collection accessible and create the endowed John and Roxie Walker Exhibit Series to bring topical, engaging exhibits to the Museum. Mountain View, California, July 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Computer History Museum (CHM) today announced two transformative gifts totaling more than $14 million to honor John W. Walker, cofounder, first president of Autodesk and the coauthor of AutoCAD, a pioneering figure whose work helped define modern digital design and continues to influence how technology is created and used today. The gifts will enable the creation of dynamic new rotating exhibits and reimagination of the permanent computer graphics gallery called the John and Roxie Walker Computer Graphics, Music & Art Gallery. Located within the Museum's signature exhibit, Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing , it is scheduled to open spring 2027. It will also fund key efforts to preserve and make the John Walker Collection accessible to researchers. The donor, the Mad Scientists Anonymous, shares a deep appreciation for the role of computing in shaping the modern world and has requested that CHM honor the life and legacy of John Walker, a pivotal figure in the personal computing revolution. "John Walker was a visionary technologist whose contributions helped shape the personal computing revolution and transform the field of digital design," said CHM President and CEO Marc Etkind. "These extraordinary gifts enable the Computer History Museum to preserve an invaluable collection and create bold, immersive experiences that illuminate the technologies influencing our world today. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to honor John's remarkable legacy in such a lasting way." The updated graphics gallery will feature elements such as large-scale projection mapping to explore the intersection of the history of computer graphics, music, and art. The gift will also support a curated digital gallery on the history of computer graphics—featuring highlights from the John Walker Collection and made accessible worldwide through the Museum's OpenCHM portal. In addition, it will enable the development of ongoing new exhibitions, ensuring CHM continues to tell a complete and evolving story of how computing, including emerging technologies, has shaped the world. "John Walker spent his life exploring how technology could empower people to create," said a representative speaking on behalf of an anonymous donor. "By supporting the Computer History Museum, we hope to honor John's legacy by ensuring his ideas, work, and collections are preserved, and by helping CHM spark curiosity and understanding about computing for generations to come."