Oldest Websites in the World That Are Still Online

🧠 Discover the oldest websites on the internet that are still live today. From CERN to Yahoo, these digital relics have stood the test of time and shaped the web as we know it.

🕸️ The Oldest Websites in the World (Still Active)

The internet has come a long way since the early ’90s, when websites were little more than plain text and hyperlinks. Yet, a few of those pioneering websites still exist today, serving as living artifacts from the dawn of the World Wide Web.

In this post, we explore the top oldest websites that are still online unchanged in spirit, preserved in design, and rich in internet history.

1. CERN.ch – The First Website Ever

• Launched: 1991
• Link: https://home.cern
  Developed by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN, this is the very first website in history. It’s the birthplace of the World Wide Web, originally created to help share scientific information across institutions.

2. Symbolics.com – The First .com Domain

• Registered: March 15, 1985
• Link: http://symbolics.com
  This domain was the first .com ever registered. Though the original company is long gone, the domain remains as a digital museum, showcasing internet history and early innovations.

3. Web.CAM.AC.UK – Home of the First Webcam

• Launched: 1992
• Link: http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk
  Belonging to the University of Cambridge, this site gained fame for hosting the first webcam stream a live view of a coffee pot in the Trojan Room, making it internet-famous.

4. WhiteHouse.gov – U.S. Government Goes Digital

• Launched: 1994
• Link: https://www.whitehouse.gov
  The official website of the White House was launched during Bill Clinton’s administration and has since become one of the most visited government websites globally.

5. W3.org – Guardian of Web Standards

• Launched: 1994
• Link: https://www.w3.org
  The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) sets the standards for how the internet works from HTML to CSS. Founded by Tim Berners-Lee, this site continues to shape the digital world.

6. SpaceJam.com (1996 Edition) – A Digital Time Capsule

• Launched: 1996
• Link: http://www.spacejam.com/1996
  Originally created to promote the Space Jam movie, the site remains unchanged since 1996. It’s a nostalgic snapshot of ’90s web design neon fonts, tiled backgrounds, and all.

7. Yahoo.com – From Link Directory to Internet Giant

• Launched: 1994
• Link: https://www.yahoo.com
  Started by two Stanford students as a list of favorite websites, Yahoo quickly became a search and news titan. Though it lost dominance, the site remains active and relevant.

8. Internet Archive – The Web’s Memory Keeper

• Launched: 1996
• Link: https://archive.org
  This site hosts the Wayback Machine, which lets you browse billions of archived web pages. It’s an essential resource for anyone researching internet history or recovering lost content.

9. CNN.com – News Goes Online

• Launched: 1995
• Link: https://www.cnn.com
  CNN was one of the first major news outlets to embrace the internet. Its early design was simple, but its 24/7 updates changed how the world consumed news forever.

10. MIT.edu – Academic Innovation on the Web

• Launched: 1993
• Link: https://web.mit.edu
  The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has always been a leader in technology, and its website is one of the oldest academic sites still online.

🔎 Other Notable Early Websites:

• Apple.com – Online since 1993–1994
• ICANN.org – Domain administration body
• NeXT.com – Steve Jobs’ company, later merged into Apple
• Sun.com – Was the official domain of Sun Microsystems until 2010
• Microsoft.com – Launched in 1994 and still one of the most important tech sites

📚 What These Digital Relics Teach Us

1. Web Longevity: Some websites have existed and even thrived for over 30 years.
2. Evolution of Design: From simple HTML pages to dynamic, responsive web apps.
3. The Importance of Archiving: Projects like Internet Archive are crucial for preserving digital history.

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🏷️ Tags: internet history, oldest websites, cern, tim berners-lee, web archive, yahoo, space jam site, wayback machine, early web, web design history
📢 Hashtags: #InternetHistory, #OldestWebsites, #CERN, #Yahoo, #WaybackMachine, #WebDesign, #Symbolics, #SpaceJam, #MIT, #W3C

🔚 Final Reflections

The web started with a few lines of code and a revolutionary idea: open access to information. These enduring websites are windows into a digital past, reminding us of where we came from and inspiring us as we build the future of the internet.