The telephone allows people to instantly communicate across language, culture and distance differences, helping bridge any potential divides that might exist in languages, cultures or distance. From wooden wall-mounted telephones that required hand cranking all the way to multifunctional touch screen smartphones of today – telephones have revolutionised societies by improving connectivity.
Telecommunications historical centers preserve telephone memorabilia and document the development of technology through museum displays. Some museums even maintain working panels and crossbar electromechanical central offices.
Telecommunications History Centres
Telecommunications History Centres are interactive museums that commemorate the history of wired telephone networks. They showcase working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central-office switches, outside plant displays of poles, cables, splicing equipment tools as well as antique telephones and switchboards in addition to having an outstanding archive of related reference materials.
The Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre opened in 1987 and remains one of Edmonton’s best family attractions. Housed within Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre, this attraction houses an extensive collection of telephones dating back to 1878 – available for guided tours for groups of 10 or more visitors.
Retired and active telecom employees were outraged to see many historic items being thrown away as buildings were relocated or closed down, prompting them to found the Telecommunications History Group (THG), an international nonprofit with two museums and an outstanding archive specializing in telecom history. Furthermore, THG offers various outreach programs for schoolchildren.
Telephone Museums
A non-profit organization created by retired ED TEL employees, this museum preserves the history of telecommunications through antique switches, switchboards and crank wall phones used during earlier times – as well as tools your ancestors may have utilized themselves. Furthermore, educational programs at this museum further excite young minds about engineering and history.
The Museum offers everything from Alexander Graham Bell’s original box-shaped telephone to modern flip phones and everything in between, including open wire insulators and operator switchboards as well as wall-mounted magneto crank phones.
The Museum of Telecommunications Technology is an incredible source for anyone interested in learning about its evolution. Offering both guided tours and self-guided visits of its impressive collections – featuring functioning Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central-office switches as well as outside plant displays of poles, wires and splicing equipment; plus an outstanding cataloged telecommunications reference library – this museum celebrates the inventiveness, craftsmanship and ingenuity found within North American’s Telecommunications industry and stands as one of the largest such institutions in North America!
Telecommunications Historical Centres for Schools
Though modern phones may seem mundane now, when first introduced in the late 1800s they were revolutionary innovations. This museum showcases both social and technical history of telecommunications through both guided and self-guided tours ranging from solid wood wall-mounted telephones requiring operators to hand crank each call through to today’s pocket-sized touch screen cell phones, celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and ingenuity while informing visitors on how telecommunications have changed our world around us.
The Museum collection showcases fully operational pieces that demonstrate both the social and technical significance of this communication revolution, such as working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches; antique telephones; switchboards; outside plant displays with poles, cables, splicing tools and equipment as well as an extensive cataloged technical library. It makes an ideal family outing, school field trip destination or group sight seeing tour destination; it also serves as an engaging learning opportunity for Boy Scouts pursuing either Invention or Engineering merit badges.
Telecommunications Historical Centres for Group Sight Seeing Tours
No matter your interest – antique collector, historian or telecom worker – you’re sure to find a wealth of telecom historical centres offering an abundance of telephones and related equipment that are sure to please. These museums showcase how communication technology has developed locally as well as globally; making these venues perfect family outings, school field trips or sightseeing tour destinations.
The Museum of Telecommunications in Roseville California boasts one of the nation’s largest collections of antique telephones and memorabilia, from early wooden prototypes to modern cellular phones. Exhibits cover an extensive array of topics.
Established on December 3rd 1987 in Old Strathcona neighbourhood and later moving to Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre, Edmonton’s non-profit Telecommunications History Centre provides acquisition, research, organization, documentation, exhibition and storage of telecom history materials. Offering hands on exhibits illustrating communication principles along with multi-media historical Theatre Show experiences for visitors!
