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!