Telecom Pioneers of Old Strathcona operates this museum since 1987 in Old Strathcona’s historic Old Strathcona neighbourhood and houses an extensive collection of telephones and equipment from Bell Systems employee services organizations such as theirs.
This museum chronicles the evolution of wired telecommunications from Alexander Graham Bell’s 1876 patent up until today’s cell phones, featuring working central office step switches, operator switchboards and outdoor displays of poles, cable and splicing equipment.
Visiting Hours
Canada’s largest telephone museum encourages visitors to touch and try things for themselves, with crank phones dotting the walls and guests taking seats at an antique switchboard from 1900s where they can act as operators and connect calls through. The museum traces phone innovation since Alexander Graham Bell first invented his device back in 1876 all the way up until modern mobile communications; hours of operation run Tuesday – Friday 10 am – 3 pm (closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday); admission by donation; this venue can be found at Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre: 1400 Kingsway Ave Edmonton Alberta T5K 0J5; telephone: (780) 424-2400
Admission
Donations keep museums open so history is accessible for all. Additionally, this 501(c)(3) public charity teaching museum fosters enthusiasm for engineering by comparing modern telecommunications technology with vintage tech from days gone by; while its phone collection provides inspiration to future innovators.
Roseville Telephone Museum provides an exciting and educational destination for family outings, school field trips and group sightseeing tours of Edmonton. Exhibits at this museum include working Central Office step switches and operator switchboards; antique wooden wall phones; candlestick wall phones and desk/rotary dial telephones, plus one of North America’s largest telecommunications reference libraries and outdoor plant displays including poles/wires/splicing equipment.
Family members often possess information and objects useful to genealogists; however, their reluctance to share these with others can thwart research efforts. A written letter, visit, or telephone survey are excellent methods of gathering this data. Furthermore, asking family members about their experience with telephone companies might aid in tracking down records more quickly.
Exhibits
The museum provides visitors with many interactive exhibits and displays to enable them to understand the development of communications technology. Exhibits include working central office step switches and operator switchboards; antique telephones and decorator phones; crank wall phones that ring, dial, and have bells inserted into their mouthpieces for privacy; as well as hundreds of pieces of communication equipment.
The exhibits at this museum demonstrate how communications technology has progressed over time from smoke signals to text messages, and recognize the creativity and dedication of individuals who have worked in telecommunications – such as one woman who warned troops in New Mexico and an operator who remained at her switchboard during a flood.
The museum features artifacts that reflect Edmonton’s rich history. Exhibits at this destination also include working panel and crossbar electromechanical central office switch equipment; outdoor plant displays featuring poles, wire, splicing equipment and tools; as well as a cataloged telecommunications reference library – making this an engaging destination for family outings, school field trips or group sightseeing tours of Edmonton.
Tours
The Jefferson Telecom Museum aims to foster an interest in science and engineering among its visitors, making it an excellent family destination and an educational school field trip or group sight-seeing tour. Featuring working central office step switches, operator switchboards and hundreds of pieces of telephone-related equipment and tools.
Staff at this museum include former employees from local phone companies with firsthand knowledge of the technologies displayed there, who share their expertise to preserve landlines as cellular phones continue to transform society. This dedication ensures that history will never be lost to us all as technology changes rapidly around us.
Visitors of the museum are treated to guided tours led by museum volunteers, providing insight into the telecommunications industry while experiencing how telephones used to work decades ago. The facility houses a two-position Kellogg universal telephone switch so guests can learn how to manually connect calls; further displays include party lines (where four housewives used one circuit together to gossip), as well as hush-a-phones which allow users to whisper secrets directly into its mouthpiece for privacy.
