Entering the Wayback Machine

Have you ever heard of the Internet Archive Wayback Machine? This online tool allows people to look at how websites from all over the internet have changed since they first appeared under their current address. While it is fun to just play around with the website, one can also look at it as an example of digital history. Since the 1990s, when the internet was introduced to the public, websites have grown to be extraordinarily sophisticated. Looking back is interesting because it allows us to consider what roles the internet and technology play in our everyday lives.
I chose to look back at the website of the North Carolina Museum of History. This website first appeared on February 20, 2001. Over the past eleven years (yes, it has been that long), the NCMH has made many changes to it's website, both in terms of content and appearance. In fact, many of the programs that were in common use back in 2001 no longer work on newer machines! For example, the version of Java that was being used in 2002 would not operate on my computer. The website looked more or less the same until March 2004, when it was made to look more colorful with more interactive menu options. The site continued to look very similar through 2008, but continued to become more sleek and less "clunky". The 2009 version was more modern with external links and click-throughs available on the home page. As of July 2011, the site has an online archive and other public resources. The internet has only existed for a fraction of human existence, but it has already changed the way we look at and develop ideas about history and its significance.