Telecommunications have come a long way since Alexander Graham Bell received his patent in 1876, and this museum boasts an extensive collection of telephone items such as switchboards, crank wall phones and decorator phones.

Discover all there is to see and do at this one-of-a-kind museum that explores Edmonton’s telephone industry’s people, technology and history. There’s so much here!

The Museum of Independent Telephony

The Museum of Independent Telephony in Abilene, Kansas offers visitors an insight into the world of non-Bell System phone companies that provided service across the Midwest and West. Visitors are welcome to touch its exhibits freely! It features a replica of an old telephone exchange along with glass insulators displays and vintage phones from its collection; visitors are even encouraged to touch exhibits themselves!

The museum’s curators are true phone enthusiasts. They collect an array of old wall devices, from candlestick phones and rotary dialers to jukebox phones (used by diners to call in music requests to waitresses), jukebox phones (for choosing music selections in restaurants) and McKinley telephones (the kind used to announce President McKinley had been shot) over 100 years ago.

As soon as the Bell patents expired in 1893, 6,000 independent telephone companies (“Independents”) emerged across North America. Many still exist today and the Museum of Independent Telephony serves to commemorate them and demonstrate how their desire to communicate has spurred 150 years of technological innovation and progress.

The History of the Telephone in Edmonton

The Telephone Historical Centre is an interactive museum designed to entice visitors into engaging with its artifacts. It boasts an impressive collection of original telephones such as crank wall phones and decorator phones; working operator switchboards; step-by-step private automatic branch exchange; display of telephone-related equipment ranging from 1920s rotary phones up to modern smartphones; all located on one floor for easy wheelchair accessibility and accredited by Museums Alberta.

The Museum commemorates generations of men and women who made telecommunications possible, from pioneering engineers who installed poles, buried cables, managed the technology, put phones into homes, businesses and cars; as well as workers who took calls, answered queries and solved problems for customers both residential and business – including an impressive archive containing photographs, news articles and ephemera that can be viewed both at the Museum as well as online.

The History of Telecommunications in Alberta

Alexander Graham Bell first introduced his telephone invention into Canada in 1878 through two telegraph companies that provided local telephone service – as opposed to today’s vast, multinational telecom companies, these were independent private-sector businesses that were overseen by provincial public utility boards and provided locally provided phone service.

These companies were able to offer local telephone services through the use of “repeaters,” devices installed along communication lines that amplified voice signals so they could travel longer distances. Over time, these networks expanded further, leading to widespread availability of telecommunication services.

Alberta Government Telephones (AGT), formed following the amalgamation of various independent telephone companies in Alberta in 1906, served as the sole provider for most of Alberta until it was privatized and renamed Telus in 1990. Unfortunately, due to relevancy, financial issues, and structural problems with their foundation underlying Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre decided to dissolve.

The Virtual Telephone Heritage

In addition to its collection of historical artifacts, the THC houses an impressive library focusing on telecom technology and history. These volumes include one-of-a-kind volumes like 1877’s The Telephone: An Account of Electricity, Magnetism and Sound with Instructions for Making a Speaking Telephone which was written to fulfill public demand for more explanation of Alexander Graham Bell’s invention.

The THC also holds many historic switches and equipment that could be restored and put on display if funding can be secured to restore them, such as Step-by-Step Private Automatic Branch Exchange from Unity, Maine; Rotary XY switches used in local switching operations; and an Arctic Pole Line Relay Station from Andover Alaska.

Since 2003, virtual heritage technology has become an indispensable tool in archaeological fieldwork (via aerial drone-based photo modeling and born-digital documentation packages), museum display, and teaching (with interactive models on hand-held devices, HMD-based computer labs and global collaborative classrooms). The THC has pioneered this discipline, contributing many case studies for publication in Creating and Using Virtual Reality book.

This museum provides an ideal venue for exploring old phones, switch equipment and other communications devices from decades past. Their collection includes working Panel and Step-by-Step automatic branch exchanges as well as outside plant displays that feature poles, cables, splicing tools and antique phones.

This renovated 1920s cotton warehouse houses an extensive collection of telecommunications memorabilia. Exhibits include an exact replica of the phone used to announce President McKinley’s assassination as well as novelty telephones from the 1950s.

Opening Hours

The museum features an impressive variety of telephones dating back to their invention by Alexander Graham Bell in 1878. Ranging from rotary dial and party line phones to military field telephones and even replicas of McKinley phones that reported his assassination, there’s sure to be something here that’ll fascinate both children and adults.

Communications Technology Museum brings history alive through interactive exhibits and displays, along with hosting special events throughout the year.

The museum boasts working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches, antique telephones and switchboards, outside plant displays with poles, cables and splicing equipment as well as an impressive cataloged telecommunications reference library – making this an invaluable history lesson! Open Tuesday to Friday; timed entry tickets must be purchased either online or by phone prior to visiting.

Guided Tours

Calling home, whether that means Philadelphia or Florida, feels like making magic happen. Even more so when seeing some of the equipment behind it all – an experience only further enhanced at The Telephone Museum where visitors can explore hands-on exhibits and self-guided tours at their own pace.

The museum provides an in-depth history of telecommunications and highlights major moments in its development, such as racing to patent office or being invented dial system by undergarer. With more than 1000 artifacts such as wall-mount telephones, candlesticks and operator switchboards on display here – you are bound to experience all that this industry offers!

Visit the New Mexico Museum of Telephony to reminisce on its early days as a phone service provider. Run on a volunteer basis, this museum boasts an expansive collection of telephone-related items from manual operator switchboards to military telephones dating from World War I through Gulf War. There’s even an authentic telephone pole complete with climbing equipment – and over 300 pieces of tools and machinery used by telecom professionals themselves!

Gift Shop

The Museum offers a vast collection of telephone equipment and memorabilia that allows visitors to explore the past by engaging with these items. You will learn about the development of telephone technology from its solid wood, wall mounted, hand cranked designs of days gone by to today’s pocket-sized, touch screen celluar phones.

The collection features a fully functional hands-on switchboard, crank wall phones and decorator phones as well as replicas of early telephones like Alexander Graham Bell’s Gallows Frame Telephone and Thomas A. Watson’s Thumper Phone from their respective eras. Furthermore, Dominion Telegraph Agent Alexander Taylor brought one into Edmonton.

Other artifacts at the museum include an exhibit of telephones used along Route 66 and historical photographs showing their work as linemen and telephone workers throughout New Mexico. A visit here would make an excellent history lesson, telecommucation lesson or just family outing experience – plus there’s even a gift shop with unique telephone-related items!

The Telephone Historical Centre was founded by retired ED TEL employees in 1987 as Edmonton’s only telephone museum, housing an extensive collection of telephones and back-end switchboards dating from 1901-1970.

The Museum features old phones made of wood (as shown below), metal, Bakelite and more. There is also a workbench where visitors can dismantle phones to learn more about their history.

Edmonton Museum

In Edmonton, Alberta’s history is on full display at the Museum at the Telephone Historical Centre – a cultural hub which recognizes its past through over 2.4 million unique Alberta stories that await to be told here. Offering many galleries for all kinds of interests and catering to various interests.

The Museum at the Telephone Historical Centre offers visitors a hands-on museum experience. Group and individual tours are offered, along with exhibits that explore telecommunications history; there is even a collection of historic directories dating back to 1906!

The Royal Alberta Museum is open year round, and features various programs throughout its year-long exhibition schedule. One highlight is the Alberta Railway Museum which recreates a nineteenth century Strathcona railway station as well as historical cars. Furthermore, other exhibitions explore Alberta history and culture while children will especially love its bug collection!

New Hampshire Telephone Museum

Warner, New Hampshire hosts this museum that provides an in-depth view into the development of communications. Their collection ranges from old hand-crank wall phones and working switchboards to displays of linemen’s tools; there is even an unusual giant wooden phone booth as well as components from Alexander Graham Bell’s original device!

The New Hampshire Telephone Museum was established in 2005 and managed by Paul Violette, grandson of Alderic O. “Dick” Violette of Bartlett family of Connecticut; together they worked in telecommunications industry for more than 85 years. Additionally, Garry Mitchell from Woodbury CT provided his expertise, as well as gifts from public members who donated objects. Approximately 1000 artifacts currently form its collection of over 1,000 items on display.

The exhibits at this museum illustrate the progression of telecommunication technology from its infancy – with switchboards and rotary dial phones to modern smart devices that have revolutionized our lives – to where it stands now with guided tours and interactive demonstrations that delve deep into its rich narrative.

Oklahoma Museum of Telephone History

Visit this museum can be an exciting adventure for the whole family, boasting an extensive collection of old telephones and communication equipment as well as various exhibits that highlight Oklahoma’s rich history such as wrestling, aviation and Native American heritage. A visit here would make an excellent learning opportunity! The Oklahoma History & Culture Museum makes for an engaging learning experience about Oklahoma history and culture!

There are museums where it could take an entire day to go through all their collections; this museum, however, is more suited for quick visits of two hours or so.

This collection spans the early days of telecom, including an original switchboard seen in black-and-white movies as well as rotary phones and historical memorabilia from that era. There are also novelty phones such as those featuring Garfield or Mickey Mouse characters.

Museum of Independent Telephony

The Museum of Independent Telephony (MIT), situated in Gridley, Illinois offers an awe-inspiring exhibit of telephone memorabilia and equipment which highlights the development of communication services across rural Illinois.

After Alexander Graham Bell’s patents expired, many small cities, towns and rural areas demanded telephone service. To meet this demand, local telephone companies emerged independent from Bell – there are now over 6,000 independent telephone companies operating across America and MIT offers a fascinating history lesson through a collection of antique phones, insulators, and switchboards from these independent service providers.

Fort Concho National Historic Landmark’s Museum of Telephone (MIT) features a collection of donated telephone equipment collected by retired telephone workers who organized as a non-profit to open it as a museum. Visitors can explore it via interactive displays or even play operator. Countless candlestick phones and box phones line each room, along with rotary dial phones and even an operating private automatic branch exchange that still works!