BOCA RATON — The Boca Raton Historical Society and IBM South Florida joined together June 16 to celebrate the 100thanniversary of International Business Machines, Big Blue. The celebration was held at the 1927 Boca Raton Town Hall, home of the historical society and site of its summertime exhibit “IBM Boca Raton.”
IBMers pose
Guests, which included many retired local IBMers, enjoyed blue cookies and blue punch under blue balloons as they tinkered with the display of vintage IBM PCs, developed in Boca Raton in the 1980s. Historic photos, memorabilia, and videos completed this popular exhibit.
Guests were treated to a 100-second video on the 100 year history of the company that gave us the PC, the magnetic stripe on the back of credit cards and the bar code! County Commissioner Steven Abrams led everyone in a toast and IBM Florida executive Rick Qualman cut the official 100 birthday cake.
The exhibit was made possible by the support of the IBM South Florida Quarter Century Club and Alumni Association (IBMSFFQCCAA), members of which provided not only the vintage computers but the technical skills to get them running once more.
The exhibit, “IBM Boca Raton,” has been extended through Sept. 30.