History Treasure Hunt Timeline

  • Connection of the First Computers on ARPANET

    The significant event in 1969 that led to the birth of the Internet was the connection of the first four computers on ARPANET. Computers were hooked up at Stanford, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah.
  • First Email Sent

    The first email was sent in 1971. It was a part of a basic “email message read and send software” written by Ray Tomlinson. The software becomes available in March 1972.
  • First International Connection to ARPANET

    The UK connects to ARPANET in 1973, marking the first international connection to the service.
  • Access to ARPANET Expands

    The National Science Foundation funded, through a grant, the creation of the Computer Science Network. This created several supercomputing centers at universities around the country.
  • NSFNET Created

    The National Science Foundation funds network connection and activity through the National Science Foundation Network Project (NSFNET), which helped generate more interest and provide infrastructure for the future of the internet.
  • Mosaic Launched

    The first web browser is launched in 1993.
  • ISPs Offer Internet Access

    ISPs such as AOL and CompuServe offer widespread access to the internet, beginning in 1995.
  • Internet Explorer Launched

    Microsoft launches Internet Explorer, partially in response to the creation of Mosaic (from Netscape).
  • ICANN Founded

    ICANN stands for Internet Cooperation of Assigned Numbers, with the goal of transitioning DNS from the US Government to industry.