The museum hosts one of the most extensive collections of telephone equipment in North America, featuring working Central Office step switches, operator switchboards and crank wall phones in addition to an extensive telecommunications reference library.
It could either be an irritating repository of outdated technology or an entertaining glimpse at one-town phone company history – but somehow this exhibit manages to walk the line between both extremes.
History of the Telephone
Since ancient times people have desired communication across long distances. While smoke signals or written letters and telegrams helped ease communication gaps over distances, only telephone made direct real time contact possible. This museum showcases its history from wooden prototypes to electromechanical marvels as well as Alexander Graham Bell’s role.
This museum is an engaging experience for kids of all ages and features hands-on exhibits of classic phone devices from past decades – candlestick wall phones and classic rotary dial phones are among the many classic phones you can try, while two-position Kellogg universal switchboards let visitors experience manual switching of private automatic branch exchanges before automation became commonplace.
The Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre was created by retired telecom professionals with a desire to preserve the history of telecom and its impact on community life. It offers working panel and crossbar electromechanical central office type switching systems; outdoor plant displays including poles cables splicing equipment and tools; working panel-crossbar electromechanical central office type switchgear; working crossbar electromechanical central office type switchgear and tools as well as technical library with books catalogs practices related to telecom.
Exhibits
From Alexander Graham Bell’s original telephone patent of 1876 through modern multifunction smartphones, telecommunication technology has experienced numerous evolutions over time. Museum collections provide insight into these changes and demonstrate their impact on shaping our connected lives.
The museum features an impressive collection of antique phones and switchboards for guests to admire, including an operational step switch private automatic branch exchange system that showcases how telephone technology has progressed from Alexander Bell’s attic workshop into what we use today.
Attractions at the museum include early line insulators and colorful antique phone booths from its early years, plus visitors can try their luck at operating a traditional operator switchboard or making calls from an authentic rotary phone. Group and individual tours are available as well as workshops taught by museum staff members to foster interest in engineering among both children and adults.
Interactive Stations
Our museum showcases a stunning collection of antique telephones – such as crank wall phones, decorator phones, working operator switchboards and the last step-by-step private automatic branch exchange; displays of equipment related to telephone use from 1920s rotary phones up to today’s smartphones; as well as wheelchair access; all this on one level for easy wheelchair accessibility and accredited by Museums Alberta.
Generations of telecom workers have worked tirelessly to construct the phone system we rely on today. This exhibition honors those workers who constructed poles, laid cable underground and devised technologies which make telephony possible today.
Students, researchers or those simply curious can explore Edmonton’s telecom history through our virtual archives. Here you will find an impressive collection of vintage telephone directories dating back to 1895; technical manuals; and other documents that can be found at our TCI Library (which will continue to expand as volunteers have time available) which is open and free service to everyone.
Docents
The museum provides an exceptional experience for all its visitors, from children to adults. Perfect for family outings, group tours or school field trips. Staff at the museum is comprised of current and retired ED TEL employees passionate about telephone history; these staffers work diligently to share the exhibits at the museum with visitors.
Archives Alberta holds several special collections that illuminate Alberta’s rich telecommunications history, such as vintage telephone directories and technical manuals from Alberta phone industry companies that can give an insight into its development. These documents also offer a peek into Albertan telephone technology’s growth.
Archives have many rare original volumes, such as an 1878 edition of “The Telephone: An Account of Electricity, Magnetism, and Sound; with Instructions for Making a Speaking Telephone” as well as a 1912 Gray Catalogue that displays different kinds of phone devices. Our site does not display pop-up/pop-under advertisements or banner ads – making our services completely free to use!
