This museum boasts one of North America’s premier collections on telephone history. Spanning from Alexander Graham Bell’s workshop to modern cell phones in your pocket, this exhibit provides insight into all aspects of telecommunication.
Its collection features crank wall phones, decorator phones, working switchboards and details from former one-town phone companies that have long since gone out of business – as well as visual and audio exhibits.
The History of the Telephone
Few inventions have had as profound a lasting effect as the telephone. Although Alexander Graham Bell is usually given credit for initiating patent filing in 1876, many other contributors contributed immensely towards making this groundbreaking technology a reality.
Antonio Meucci experimented with a “teletrofono” in the 1850s, while Charles Bourseul and Phillip Reis also constructed similar devices prior to Bell. However, these prototypes failed to reliably transmit sound. Bell’s knowledge of sound transmission influenced his approach for phone phone transmission.
The museum features working Step-by-Step and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches, antique wooden box phones and candlestick wall phones as well as a vast collection of telecom poles, wire and splicing equipment. Furthermore, one of North America’s largest telecommunications reference libraries resides within its walls as well as an impressive assortment of telephone-related books, catalogs and technical journals relating to telecom. All exhibits can be reached easily with wheelchair users by way of an accessible ramp on the east side of the building.
The Artifacts
The Telephone Historical Centre boasts an incredible array of artifacts related to telephone technology. Ranging from wooden box phones and classic rotary models, this museum chronicles telephone history through engaging displays and exhibits spanning Alexander Graham Bell’s time to today’s iPhones – showing just how technology has revolutionized how we connect.
Room after room features wooden wall phones, candlestick telephones and novelty phones made of wood or made from plastic; plus cases full of insulators (plastic devices used to house phone wires). Furthermore, this museum houses working switching equipment as well as an extensive catalogued telecommunication reference library.
Visitors can explore the Winter Park Telephone Company, founded by local resident Carl H. Galloway in 1910 to improve customer service for his father’s grocery store by enabling customers to call in orders. Museum text boxes detail its evolution over time from its early days through modern times; history buffs will enjoy viewing its related artifacts. Museum board director Tom Baker noted how initially, people thought the telephone was magical when first introduced – something which has left an indelible mark on society ever since it first entered society’s consciousness.
The Museum’s Mission
The Museum of Telecommunications chronicles local and global telecom history through working step switch and crossbar electromechanical central office switching equipment as well as an impressive cataloged technical library. Exhibits also feature antique phones as well as outside plant displays such as poles, cables and splicing equipment.
Visitors to the museum can admire wooden box phones, candlestick phones and classic rotary dials; in addition, they can explore tools used by technicians for troubleshooting phone lines.
Tom Baker, Museum Board Director. The Phone Museum collection reminds people of all of the steps involved in connecting people over decades past; its evolution from Bell’s original invention through modern iPhones.
The Laurel Award Nomination
The Laurel Award provides city residents an opportunity to honor those who give back to their communities through service and volunteerism. Residents can nominate individuals or organizations until November 20th for this prestigious award, which will then be reviewed by a committee before up to ten winners will be recommended to Mayor Daley each year.
Telecommunications history is preserved at this museum, established in 1987. It features working Step-by-Step and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches as well as antique wooden box phones, candlestick wall phones, one of North America’s largest reference libraries in telecommunications and outdoor displays of poles, wire and splicing equipment – as well as group and individual sightseeing tours.
Location: Edmonton, Alberta The museum first opened in a former telephone exchange building in Old Strathcona but then relocated to its current home at Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre in downtown Edmonton in 2004. Operated by a non-profit organization accredited by Museums Alberta.
