This museum chronicles the development of telephone technology since its invention in 1876. Featuring working equipment, visitors can see evidence of progress made over one hundred years in telecom.
This collection boasts wooden wall phones, candlestick phones, classic rotary dials and novelty phones – as well as a two-position Kellogg Universal switchboard that enables visitors to experience how manual switching was once conducted before automation became mainstream.
The History of the Telephone
Humans have always attempted to communicate over long distances using various means such as smoke signals, letters and telegraphs – until the invention of telephone. With its immediate and live communication abilities, this allowed for real-time contact between distant parties.
Alexander Graham Bell became the first person to patent a telephone on March 7, 1876, after working as a teacher of deaf children and searching for ways to electronically transmit speech.
Antonio Meucci and Charles Bourseul had also experimented with various designs of telephone before Alexander Bell came along; each had his own version. Bell used vibrations of copper wire, similar to violin strings, to transmit sound over long distances; his invention was displayed at the Philadelphia World’s Exposition in 1876.
The History of the Roseville Telephone Company
Prior to automated systems making calling easy and effortless, callers had to use manual exchanges staffed by busy, often cranky operators who sometimes cursed out impatient subscribers; sometimes these operators even included female representatives.
The museum features working central office step switches and operator switchboards as well as antique wooden telephones, candlestick wall phones and rare phone booths from its collection. Furthermore, one of North America’s largest telecommunications reference libraries as well as outdoor displays of poles, wire and splicing equipment can also be found here.
The Telephone Historical Centre serves as a STEM-style teaching museum that allows visitors to experiment with old-fashioned phones and switchboards while providing hands-on learning opportunities about technology evolution. Furthermore, this engaging destination serves as an engaging destination for family outings, school field trips, or group sightseeing tours of Edmonton. Additionally, rare communication technology such as its first liquid transmitter and prototype mobile telephones are preserved here to ensure their legacy does not fade into history. Open to the public since 2007, this place can serve as an engaging destination for family outings, school field trips or group sightseeing tours of Edmonton! The Telephone Historical Centre makes for an engaging destination open to all visitors; perfect for family outings, school field trips or group sightseeing tours of Edmonton!
The History of the Jefferson Telecom Telephone Museum
This museum presents a fascinating look back at the evolution of telephone technology from candlestick phones to modern cell phones. Anyone interested in understanding more about telecommunications should visit.
Volunteers have spent more than 70,000 hours renovating this museum located in what were once military officers’ quarters, housing operator switchboards and working central office step switches as well as thousands of telephone-related items such as novelty phones.
At Jefferson Telecom Museum, many exhibits were donated by former employees who once worked there. One of the more fascinating exhibits includes a “party line” phone used by four housewives at once to share one telephone circuit and exchange gossip; as well as a hush-a-phone, which allows people to whisper secrets into its mouthpiece for privacy.
The Jefferson Telecom Telephone Museum is an excellent educational destination for families, students, and anyone else curious about telephone history. Easily navigable, self-guided tours are also offered; for groups of 10 or more it is necessary to book guided tours at least two weeks in advance.
The History of the Telecommunications History Group
The Telecommunications History Group (THG) is an international society dedicated to collecting, preserving, documenting and educating about the history of telephones, switching systems, telegraphs and payphones. Through conferences, workshops and public programs held throughout the year to educate the public on this field; publishing books; working with schools on curriculum inclusion.
The THG collection spans from Alexander Graham Bell’s first call in 1876 up until mobile technology today, including rare artifacts such as candlestick wall phones, rotary dial phones and a Kellogg universal switchboard that enables visitors to simulate manual line switching at telephone exchanges before automated systems became the norm. Staffed by current and retired phone company employees with extensive knowledge about each piece displayed ensures that landlines’ history won’t be forgotten as cellphones become standard fare.
