Although we are long past the dark ages of dial-up, the internet still holds some gems from those ancient times. But have you ever wondered what the oldest websites that are still online are? Join us as we take a journey back in time.
Some of these are absolutely hilarious, and we would thoroughly recommend a visit. While many were created and designed long before UI design software, there is something very classic about their aesthetics.
What is the oldest website?
While it might be almost impossible to answer this question conclusively, here are 12 examples of some of the oldest websites out there for your enjoyment. This list is far from exhaustive and is in no particular order.
(Honorary) 1 – Symbolics.com
We’ll kick off our list of the oldest websites with this old-timer. Technically speaking, the website itself isn’t that old, but worthy of inclusion, as its domain was registered on March 15, 1985.
This makes it one of, if not the oldest, .com registered domains out there. The company still exists, and the website appears to have last been amended in 2010.
Symbolics is a now-defunct computer manufacturer and has since been acquired by an investor group in Dallas, Texas.
1. Interrupt Tech Corp. is one super old website
This one is a literal internet-living fossil. According to hover.com, this site was registered on September 18th, 1986. If you want to visit the site for yourself, here is the link – itcorp.com. While it won’t win any awards for design, its age and the fact it is still live online shock us.
These guys obviously felt somewhat aggrieved to have to create one in the first place: –
“This Web page exists primarily to satisfy the needs of those who expect every domain to have a Web presence.”
2. Another of the oldest websites is Vortex Technology
Vortex.com‘s domain was registered on October 27th, 1986. It was set up by Lauren Weinstein, the Co-Founder of People For Internet Responsibility, Network Neutrality Squad, and founder of the PRIVACY Forum.
This site is a collection of information for visitors to become better internet “citizens”.
The website is rather archaic in design but appears to have last been updated in 2017.
3. Texas Internet Consulting is an old-timer
tic.com appears to have been registered in April 1987. The website itself is pretty basic but magnificent by virtue of its age.
The firm was originally a one-man operation run by Smoot Carl-Mitchell. It does have links to bios that were last dated in 2004, and apparently, he is currently working for Cort Business Services.
4. Toad Hall may be old, but it’s still up
toad.com, another ancient website, is a possible reference to Mr. Toad’s house in the Wind in the Willows. This site seems to be dedicated to a collection of links to John Gilmore. Toad.com is one of the oldest websites out there.
He was one of the founders of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. If you are interested in joining the ranks of people who like to fight unjust laws and regulations. their use and abuse, this page is a great starting point.
Plus, you’ll be looking back in time, sort of.
5. Caine, Farber & Gordon, Inc. is still alive and kicking
The domain appears to have been registered in 1987. The website itself seems equally as old. This company was founded in 1970 and is a software and systems firm best known for the PDL/81 Program Design Language Processor.
Harking back to tales of Armageddon just before the millennium, these guys had it covered. Apparently, their processor is Y2K compliant –nice to know.
6. Purple.com is also old but has had a facelift recently
We are unsure whether this is a modern art form; perhaps it’s a statement about the human condition. Who knows.
The domain was registered in 1994 and has minimal stuff on the site except for a plain purple page, a funny FAQ page, and an option to buy the site for around $1.5 million. That’s it, nothing else. You can visit it if you wish, but we’ve pretty much summed it up. The name, therefore, is simply perfect.
8. Milk.com might be one of the best old websites around
Here’s another funny one, and old to boot. Registered in 1994, the site is a great example of being in the right place at the right time. Like purple.com, this one might be up for sale if you can hand over around $10 million dollars.
There are some funny faqs and some other amusing links on the page. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’ve got an hour or so to kill.
9. acme.com is an old website years, years ahead of its time
acme.com was registered in 1994, is one of the oldest websites, and is still working. It seems the website owner is quite happy to keep the antique look of the site and to be honest; it’s quite refreshing to modern “fancy” sites.
As the site details, they are “Purveyors of fine freeware since 1972. On the net since 1991.”
Fair enough.
10. Yes, the 90s website for “Space Jam” is still live
Remember that film? Oh man, that’s going back. Did you know the website is still alive? Amazing right? When was that, 1996? Granted it’s been archived, but it’s nice Warner Bros hasn’t deleted it outright.
Boasting a star-filled background and amazing mid-’90’s graphics, but sadly no Michael Jordan, how could you not set it as your homepage?
Brilliant stuff.
11. toastytech.com is the epitome of 90s website design
Here’s another funny one. Back in the misty past of the internet, Microsoft once asked that users install IE 1. It appears one particular customer was less than pleased.
Taking the time and dedication to create an entire web page detailing just how evil Internet Explorer is, frankly, impressive. And all this in 1998.
As the site explains:
“This site is dedicated to preserving and expressing the humor and controversy around the intrusive introduction of Microsoft Internet Explorer and how Microsoft abused its dominant position in the Operating System Marketplace.”
And that, ladies and gentlemen, are some of the oldest websites still alive and kicking out there.
Amazing right? If you want to see some more, why not try “google whacking” some or visit 404pagefound.com? They have an archive of old websites since 1993.
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