Internet Explorer Tombstone: The Real Story

Yes, Internet Explorer has a literal tombstone — a physical gravestone erected by Microsoft to mark the browser’s official retirement on June 15, 2022. The stone, unveiled at the company’s Redmond campus, reads “Internet Explorer… You earned a place in our hearts” and lists the browser’s birth and death dates (1995–2022). This article explains why the tombstone exists, what it says, where it is, and what it means for the millions of people who still encounter IE relics today.

Why Did Microsoft Make a Tombstone?

Microsoft created the tombstone as a humorous, public farewell to a product that defined the early web. The idea came from the company’s own developer relations team, who wanted to acknowledge the browser’s 27-year run and the emotional attachment (both positive and negative) that users had to it. The stone is not a grave in any literal sense — no one is buried there — but it serves as a marketing stunt and a cultural milestone. It was first revealed in a short video posted on Microsoft’s official channels on June 15, 2022, the same day support for IE11 ended on most Windows 10 editions.

What Does the Tombstone Actually Say?

The granite marker is styled like a classic headstone, with the following text engraved:

• “Internet Explorer” in large letters
• “You earned a place in our hearts”
• “1995–2022”
• A small “RIP” at the top

Some photos and videos also show a small blue “e” logo on the stone, and the base includes the words “Microsoft” and “June 15, 2022.” The wording is intentionally sentimental, playing on the nostalgia many developers and users feel for the browser that once held over 90% market share.

Where Is the Tombstone Located?

The tombstone is located on Microsoft’s main campus in Redmond, Washington, near the Visitor Center and Building 92. It is not in a publicly accessible area — the campus is gated and requires an employee badge or a scheduled visitor pass. Microsoft has not announced any plans to move it to a museum, so as of now, it remains on private property. A few replica tombstones were also handed out to Microsoft employees as novelty gifts, but those are not on public display.

What Led to Internet Explorer’s Death?

Internet Explorer’s decline was gradual but relentless. Key factors include:

• Technical stagnation: IE6, released in 2001, was not meaningfully updated for years, allowing Firefox and later Chrome to overtake it in features and speed.
• Standards non-compliance: IE used proprietary rendering that forced developers to write separate code for it, leading to widespread frustration.
• Security problems: IE was the primary target for malware and phishing attacks in the 2000s, damaging its reputation.
• Microsoft’s own shift: The company released Edge in 2015, built on a modern Chromium engine, and actively pushed users to switch.

By 2022, IE’s global market share was under 1%, and Microsoft had already stopped supporting IE11 on Windows 10 for Microsoft 365 apps in August 2021. The final retirement was a formality.

Is Internet Explorer Really Completely Dead?

Not entirely. While the tombstone marks the end of support, IE11 still runs on some older Windows 10 Enterprise and Education editions until June 15, 2023, and on Windows Server 2022 until 2026. Additionally, the IE engine (Trident) lives on inside Microsoft Edge’s “IE mode,” which is designed for businesses that rely on legacy web apps. So the tombstone is symbolic — the browser’s underlying technology survives in a limited, enterprise-only form.

How Can I Still Use Internet Explorer Today?

If you absolutely must access an old website that only works in IE, your options are:

1. Use Microsoft Edge with IE mode — this is the official, supported method. Open Edge, go to Settings > Default browser, and enable “Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode.” Then reload the page and choose “Reload in IE mode.”
2. Use a virtual machine with an old Windows version (e.g., Windows 7 or 10 with IE11) — but note that these are unsupported and insecure for general browsing.
3. Use a third-party browser that emulates IE, such as old versions of Firefox or Chrome with IE Tab extensions — these are unofficial and may not work reliably.

The average user should not try to run IE as their main browser. It lacks modern security updates and will not render most current websites correctly.

What Should I Do If a Website Still Requires IE?

If you encounter a website that demands Internet Explorer, the best approach is to try Edge’s IE mode first. It is built into Windows 10 and 11 and requires no extra downloads. If that fails, contact the website administrator and ask them to update the site to modern standards — many government and corporate sites have been doing this since 2022. For personal use, consider switching to a modern browser like Edge, Chrome, or Firefox, which are faster, safer, and compatible with virtually all current web content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Internet Explorer tombstone real or a joke?

It is real. Microsoft actually commissioned a granite headstone and placed it on their Redmond campus. It was not a prank or a digital mock-up — the company shared photos and videos of the physical object, and multiple employees confirmed its existence.

Can I visit the Internet Explorer tombstone?

No, not without being an employee or having a scheduled visitor pass. The Microsoft campus is private property with security checkpoints. There is no public viewing area, and the stone is not part of any tour.

What happened to Internet Explorer after 2022?

Support ended for most versions, meaning no more security updates or bug fixes. The browser itself can still be launched on some systems, but it is unsafe to use. Microsoft’s official replacement is Edge, which includes IE mode for legacy sites.

Why did Microsoft make a tombstone instead of just retiring the browser quietly?

It was a deliberate marketing move to humanize the end of a product that had been part of many people’s digital lives for over two decades. The tombstone generated widespread media coverage and gave Microsoft a chance to frame the retirement as a positive transition to Edge.

Is there an Internet Explorer museum exhibit?

As of now, no major museum has announced an exhibit featuring the tombstone. The stone remains on Microsoft’s campus. However, the video of its unveiling is archived on YouTube and other platforms, and many news articles have documented it.

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in t | IE retirement year | - | 2022 | 1995 | 2100
out years | Years since retirement | years | t - 2022 | 1