The Intel Museum offers tourists, educators, students, and history buffs a rare, "behind-the-scenes" glimpse into Intel's world of high technology in California's famed Silicon Valley.

The museum is located at the Santa Clara headquarters of Intel Corporation, the world's largest silicon chip maker. Museum features include:

• More than 30 hands-on exhibits that explore how computer chips are developed and manufactured, and how they are changing the way we work, play, learn, and communicate
• A 1,000-square-foot retail store
• A 1,000-square-foot computer-equipped learning lab designed for science lab classes on topics such as electrical conductivity, technology careers, and high-tech product marketing
• Free use of state-of-the-art audio tour units to enhance self-guided tours

At the museum visitors can experience what it's like inside an ultra-clean, highly automated factories where Intel makes silicon chips, trace Intel innovations over time, and see how computing and communications are converging in new types of digital devices. Exhibits appeal to engineers and grade-school students alike, and stimulate interest in technology and how it increasingly affects our daily lives.

Admission to the 10,000-square-foot facility is free. The museum is designed as a self-guided experience. Visitors may check out free state-of-the-art audio tour units. The audio tours include video and interactive activities and are available in English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.

The Intel Museum Store is the only corporate museum store in Silicon Valley open to the public. The store stocks a wide range of items, from clothing and souvenirs to calculators and backpacks, all designed with high-tech themes.

Parking and admission at the Intel Museum are free. Teachers may make reservations for free guided student tours and hands-on science classes. Because demand for field trips is high, museum staff advises that teachers make reservations well in advance.

The museum and store are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, excluding holidays. The museum is located inside Intel's Robert Noyce Building at 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, Calif. For security reasons, visitors may not bring bags and backpacks into the museum. For more information, visit www.intel.com/museum or call (408) 765-0503. To reach the Intel Museum Store, call (408) 765-9026. For information on Intel Corporation, visit www.intel.com.