From Alexander Graham Bell’s simple box-shaped phone to today’s sleek cellular phones, the Museum showcases the creativity and craftsmanship associated with telecom technology. Knowledgeable docents – current and retired ED TEL employees volunteering their time – provide visitors with tours through its displays. Working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches, operator switchboards, outside plant displays including poles cables splicing equipment as well as an extensive cataloged telephone-related reference library all enhance this visit to this museum.
Admission
Discover how the telephone has evolved since Alexander Graham Bell first unveiled his gallows frame telephone and Thomas Edison unveiled his rotary phone to today’s sleek cellular phones at this non-profit museum, which makes an excellent stop on school field trips, family outings and sightseeing tours. Featuring working operator switchboards as well as outdoor plant displays featuring poles, lines and splicing equipment as well as crank wall phones and novelty phones; visitors will truly be fascinated with all there is to offer at this interactive facility.
The Telephone Historical Centre opened its doors for visitors in 1987 at Edmonton, Alberta’s Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre. Staffed by knowledgeable docents (both current and retired employees of ED TEL), it offers tours that enable guests to interact with its exhibits – including its manual switchboard where visitors can connect their own calls as well as hands-on activities like disassembling old phones to observe how voice can be converted to electrical current and vice versa.
Exhibits
Few inventions have had as profound an effect on human communication as the telephone. Learn how it came into being and its lasting legacy at one of these amazing historical centres.
Based on their location, these museums may provide group tours or provide interactive experiences to visitors. They often display old equipment like solid wood wall-mounted devices with operator controls to novelty Princess phones and modern cellular technology; as well as recreations of independent exchanges and glass insulators as well as working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches; outside plant displays featuring poles, lines and splicing tools as well as cataloged telecommunications reference materials.
These museums provide an enjoyable family outing, school field trip or sightseeing tour of historic communications technology. Visitors will see everything from Alexander Graham Bell’s gallows frame phone to today’s sleek mobile phones!
Docents
The museum features operator switchboards, crank wall phones and rotary dialers; military telephones from World War I through to Gulf War; novelty phone poles; as well as one of the world’s largest collections of antique telephones.
The Telephone Historical Centre is an ideal destination for family outings, school field trips and sightseeing tours. Their knowledgeable docents, who include both current and retired ED TEL employees, provide guided tours through its exhibits.
The Roseville Communications Technology Museum features exhibits that span more than 100 years of communications technology in Roseville and around the world, such as working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical Central office switches; outside plant displays featuring poles, cables, splicing equipment and tools; as well as an extensive cataloged Telecommunications Reference Library. With so much interactive fun on offer here for visitors of all ages to enjoy this museum is sure to provide both fun and learning for all visitors alike!
Parking
Established by retired ED TEL employees in 1987, the Telephone Historical Centre provided visitors with an interactive experience in telecom history. Ranging from Alexander Graham Bell’s iconic gallows frame phone to modern mobile phones such as smartphones, this non-profit attraction housed an extensive collection of antique phones and switches. There was even an interactive recreation of an old telephone exchange and glass insulators displays to keep visitors amused for hours!
Once housed in Old Strathcona neighborhood and then later relocating to Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre for improved accessibility, this popular Edmonton attraction now enjoys greater accessibility through knowledgeable docents (current and former ED TEL employees volunteering their time) who guide visitors through exhibits such as working operator switchboards, outside plant displays including poles, lines, splicing equipment and crank wall phones as well as crank wall phones. Furthermore, an extensive cataloged reference library houses information regarding all forms of telecom artifacts and information which provides unparalleled experience and understanding for every visitor to visit this landmark attraction!
Directions
Telephone Historical Centre can be found in Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre in central Edmonton and is one of the largest phone museums in North America. Established by retired ED TEL employees, the museum operates as a non-profit organization and features knowledgeable docents to guide visitors through its exhibits and technical library housing displays of Edison insulators.
It is one of the finest places to explore the history and development of telecommunication technology, from Alexander Graham Bell’s iconic gallows frame phone to modern mobile phones and more. A great stop for school field trips or sightseeing tours!
The Museum of Telecom History is an engaging museum designed to engage both adults and children alike, featuring working operator switchboards, outside plant displays complete with poles, lines and splicing tools, crank wall phones and novelty Princess phones – providing visitors with a delightful interactive experience.
