Vintage Apple Computer Exhibit

Long before the original Macintosh from the ’80s, Apple executive Steve Jobs changed the way many of us communicate with each other.

In the wake of his passing last week, the Marquette Maritime Museum is honoring his work with a unique exhibit.

The museum has the Apple 1, Apple’s first computer.

It hit the market in 1976.

Steve Wozniak designed the Apple 1 and built each model by hand.

Jobs, his friend, sold and marketed them.

Fewer than 50 Apple 1s still exist.

Taylor Adams of the museum says a friend of the museum who wishes to remain anonymous obtained one of those Apple 1s some time ago and was kind enough to lend it to the museum for a short time.

The Apple 1 connected to most TV sets of the day, so it had no monitor.

It cost $666.66.

And it didn’t only change personal computing — it touched off development of shipboard electronics and computer-based navigation systems.

You can see the Apple 1 through October 23rd, when the museum closes for the season.

It’s open from 10 to 5 every day until then.