I often find myself reflecting on those moments in history where a small, almost unassuming beginning fundamentally alters the trajectory of everything that follows. Take 1976, for instance. You had two college dropouts, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, standing at what we might call the "ground zero" of the personal computing revolution. It started with something as bare as a motherboard—the Apple I, sold for a rather striking $6lar66.66—but it quickly blossomed into the Apple II, a machine that brought color graphics and true usability into the hands of everyday people. It wasn't just about a new piece of hardware; it was about a new way of interacting with the world.

Fast forward to 2026, and that same spirit of innovation is being celebrated at KansasFest in Springfield, Illinois. Now, for the enthusiasts and the "retrocomputing diehards," this isn't just a convention; it’s a pilgrimage. This year is particularly poignant as we mark the 40th anniversary of the Apple IIGS, that 16-bit pinnacle of the era. It’s a rare opportunity to hear from the people who were actually in the room—people like Dan Kottke, Apple’s twelfth employee, and the brilliant engineer Dan Hillman. Whether you’re there in person or joining the virtual weekend in late July, there is a palpable sense of connection to the origins of our digital age.

But what I find most moving about the story of KFest is its resilience. In the mid-90s, when Apple moved on and corporate support evaporated, the convention could have easily vanished along with the hardware. Instead, a group of dedicated volunteers stepped up, driven not by a profit motive, but by a genuine love for the architecture and a refusal to let this piece of history fade away. They transformed a corporate event into a community-led non-profit. It’s a beautiful reminder that when something has true, intrinsic value, a dedicated community will do whatever it takes to keep its flame alive.