Cal-Linn Building's Place in History Recognized as Part of National Register

Albuquerque's Cal-Linn Building has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The building is significant in American history, particularly for its connection to Microsoft.

In 1975, Paul Allen and Bill Gates founded Microsoft in the Cal-Linn Building after developing a version of BASIC for the Altair 8800 microcomputer. At the time, it was difficult to find high-level programmers willing to move to Albuquerque, so Gates and Allen moved their headquarters to Bellevue, Washington on January 1, 1979.

However, Microsoft returned to the building in 2006 with a commemorative plaque. Today, there is no official presence of the company at the location except for what may exist on computers operating out of the strip mall. The National Park Service administered the program that led to the Cal-Linn Building's designation as part of the National Register.