Editing The Tech Interactive (section)

==History==
Planning began in 1978 by members of the [[Junior League]] of Palo Alto, with later assistance by the San Jose Junior League.<ref name="Tech20">{{cite news |last1=Pizarro |first1=Sal |title=The Tech still inspires innovation after 20 years in San Jose |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/03/02/the-tech-still-inspires-innovation-after-20-years-in-san-jose/ |access-date=2019-05-25 |work=The Mercury News |date=2 March 2019}}</ref> The City of San Jose promised funding for a '''Technology Center of Silicon Valley''' in the 1980s, but progress was slow.<ref name="Tech20" />

The first {{convert|20000|sqft|adj=on}} temporary exhibit opened in 1990; '''The Garage''', named in homage to the [[HP Garage]],<ref name="NewName" /><ref name="Murky" /> was housed in San Jose's former convention center. On October 31, 1998, a brand-new {{convert|132000|sqft|adj=on}} facility was inaugurated, named '''The Tech Museum of Innovation'''.<ref name="Tech20" /><ref>{{cite web |title= About Us: The Tech Today |publisher= The Tech Museum of Innovation |url= http://www.thetech.org/about/ |access-date  = 2008-12-21 |url-status= dead |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081220124501/http://www.thetech.org/about/ |archive-date = 2008-12-20 }}</ref> In May 2019, the organization was renamed as '''The Tech Interactive''' and announced a partnership with [[Discovery Education]].<ref name="NewName" /><ref name="Murky" />

In 2018, an expansion of Tech Interactive by {{convert|63,000|sqft}} was proposed, as part of a major high-rise office development in Park Habitat.<ref name="Avalos">{{cite news |last1=Avalos |first1=George |title=Downtown San Jose's Museum Place complex will feature big office tower, Tech Museum expansion |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/11/01/downtown-san-joses-museum-place-complex-big-office-tower-tech-museum-expansion-google-adobe/ |access-date=2019-05-25 |work=The Mercury News |date=1 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Angst|first=Maggie|date=2019-12-03|title=San Jose OK's 20-story downtown Museum Place office tower, Tech expansion|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/12/03/san-jose-oks-20-story-downtown-museum-place-office-tower-tech-museum-expansion|access-date=2021-05-11|website=The Mercury News|language=en-US}}</ref>{{update inline|date=January 2022}}

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], The Tech Interactive temporarily closed for in-person visits in March, 2020, and published online [[STEM]] resources through "The Tech Interactive at Home", in English, and "The Tech Interactive en Casa", in Spanish.<ref name="Dorsey">{{Cite web|last=Dorsey|first=Dustin|date=2020-12-11|title=San Jose's Tech Interactive creates new ways to spread mission during COVID-19 pandemic|url=https://abc7news.com/8423748/|access-date=2021-05-11|website=ABC7 San Francisco|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=March 20, 2020|title=The Tech Interactive offers free, easy activities to do at home|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-tech-interactive-offers-free-easy-activities-to-do-at-home-301027627.html|access-date=2021-05-11|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en}}</ref>