Charleston Gardens in Palo Alto in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

First Commercially Practicable Integrated Circuit

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2012

1. First Commercially Practicable Integrated Circuit Marker

Inscription. At this site in 1959, Dr. Robert Noyce of Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation invented the first integrated circuit that could be produced commercially. Based on “planar” technology, an earlier Fairchild breakthrough, Noyce’s invention consisted of a complete electronic circuit inside a small silicon chip. His innovation helped revolutionize “Silicon Valley’s” semiconductor electronics industry, and brought profound change to the lives of people everywhere.

Erected 1991 by State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with Intel Corporation. (Marker Number 1000.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1959.

Location. 37° 25.307′ N, 122° 6.198′ W. Marker is in Palo Alto, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Charleston Gardens. It can be reached from East Charlston Road east of San Antonio Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 844 East Charlston Road, Palo Alto CA 94303, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Silicon Valley,

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow

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flies: Semiconductor Planar Process and Integrated Circuit (here, next to this marker); El Palo Nuevo (approx. 0.6 miles away); J. Pearce Mitchell Park (approx. ¾ mile away); Star Steel Windmill (approx. 0.8 miles away); Immigrant House (approx. 0.8 miles away); Rengstorff House (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Spirit of the Times (approx. 1.1 miles away); Birthplace of Silicon Valley (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palo Alto.

First Commercially Practicable Integrated Circuit Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 27, 2012

2. First Commercially Practicable Integrated Circuit Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,448 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 31, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.