Pictures of the HP House
and Garage
updated May 14, 2020
The famous HP house and garage is located at 367 Addison
Avenue near the intersection of Waverley Street in Palo
Alto. The HP headquarters is only about two miles away to
the south east. Downtown Palo Alto is only a few blocks
away on Waverley Street.
These are some pictures I took of the famous HP house and Garage
during my trip to Palo Alto in early June, 2007. HP
purchased the house in 2000 and did a major restoration in
2005. The house was restored to the original style and
paint color as it was in 1939. See http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/garage/ (now a dead link) for
details including a video of the restoration. The interior
of the house has been accommodated with as similar
furniture and style as possible to as it was in 1939 based on the
few vintage pictures that exist. The dining room has a
large table and is occasionally used for various high level
meetings. The kitchen is fully functional and even includes
an oven (a museum piece) just like the original that was used for
both cooking and baking the paint on the oscillators. There is
even a reconstructed work table in the garage with tools,
equipment, and a drill press just like the original.
Because the house is in a
neighborhood and HP is not in the tour guide business, HP only gives inside
tours on special occasions so as not to cause any disturbance. A caretaker actually lives in the
house. I am one of the fortunate few
that have had an inside tour. I have to give
HP an A+ for a job very well done! One really feels
as if a young Bill or Dave could appear at any moment. It is very
awe inspiring to stand in the very spot in the garage where so
much history began. It is my understanding that a virtual tour of
the interior will be available on the HP website sometime in the
future.
On any given day a number of people come by and take
pictures. If you want to visit the house be prepared to
look for a place to park as parking places can be hard
to come by although I have had good luck the several times I have
been there. There are parking garages a few blocks away in
downtown.