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The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has acquired YouTube’s first-ever video, marking a significant moment in the preservation of digital culture and internet history.
Visitors to the South Kensington museum will now have the opportunity to “step back in time” as a reconstruction of the original YouTube watch page goes on display, offering a nostalgic look at how the platform appeared in its early days.
The museum collaborated with YouTube to faithfully rebuild the design and user experience of the site using archived material from December 2006 the oldest available internet archive of the platform.
This reconstruction allows visitors to experience the simplicity of early online video sharing, long before the era of high-definition streaming, monetized content, and algorithm-driven recommendations.
In addition to recreating the original interface, the museum has officially acquired the first video ever uploaded to the platform, titled Me at the Zoo.
The 19-second clip was posted in April 2005 by YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim and features him standing in front of elephants at a zoo.
Though simple in nature, the video became a landmark in digital media history. To date, it has amassed nearly 380 million views and over 18 million likes, underscoring its lasting cultural impact.
YouTube’s Chief Executive Officer, Neal Mohan, described the reconstruction as more than just a display of an old video. According to him, it invites the public to revisit the origins of a global cultural phenomenon that transformed how people create and consume media.
He called it a proud moment to see this piece of digital history preserved within one of the world’s most respected museums.
Corinna Gardner, Senior Curator of Design and Digital at the V&A, noted that the acquisition represents an important milestone in the history of internet design.
She explained that preserving early digital platforms helps tell the broader story of how the internet has shaped modern communication, creativity, and the rise of the global creator economy.
The reconstruction process will also be featured in a mini-display at V&A East Storehouse, highlighting the museum’s ongoing commitment to collecting and safeguarding digital design.
Previous digital acquisitions by the V&A include WeChat, Flappy Bird, EUKI, and even the mosquito emoji design.
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