Telephone Historical Centre archieves provides visitors with an immersive experience in communication technology, offering visitors a chance to experiment with crank phones, touch a working rotary dial phone and learn about how a private automatic branch exchange operates.
This one-of-a-kind museum boasts an unparalleled collection of telephones, antique switches, functioning panel and crossbar electromechanical switchboards and reference books that make this attraction truly unmissable! Don’t miss your opportunity to explore this impressive exhibit!
Collections
As well as offering its one-of-a-kind Telephone Museum, the Center boasts an impressive library specializing in telecom technology and history. Furthermore, historic Rockville Centre telephone directories dating back to 1895 as well as technical manuals on phone equipment can all be found here.
The Centre stands out from other museums by providing an engaging interactive experience, enabling visitors to activate wooden wall phones and take turns being operators on antique switchboards. It also boasts an extensive collection of antique rotary dial phones as well as an operational Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office step switch that gives people insight into modern telephony.
The Centre’s collections highlight generations of men and women who made communications possible for all, whether through pole erection and wire burial to installing technology into homes and businesses – these individuals made it possible for us all to talk freely no matter our location in the world.
Exhibits
Today, most business communications use landlines, VoIP lines or mobile phones designed by Alexander Graham Bell; his legacy can be seen through their technologies’ development at the Telephone Historical Centre through artifacts and archives of telecom-related materials.
The museum exhibits are both engaging and educational. Put yourself through your paces operating a manual switchboard or using a crank wall phone; or gain more insight into telecommunications through vintage telephone directories and technical manuals from their collection.
Edmonton’s Telephone Historical Centre opened as Canada’s sole telecommunications museum in 1987 and remains an invaluable source of telecommunications history today. It features one of North America’s largest reference libraries on communications equipment, working electromechanical central office step switches and operator switchboards, outside plant displays of poles, wires and splicing equipment as well as group or family sightseeing tours that explore this incredible facility founded by retired ED TEL employees that offer unique insights into telecom history.
Events
Today it seems almost magical that we can instantly connect to mom in Philadelphia or our best friend in New York with just the click of a button, yet in years gone by this process required various wires and cords – an antique telephone museum offers an amazing look into communication history through its antique phones and memorabilia collection.
Established by retired ED TEL employees, this unique museum is Canada’s sole facility of its kind. Featuring working central office step switches and operator switchboards; antique wooden wall phones; crank-up desk and rotary dial phones; outdoor plant displays of poles, lines and splicing equipment as well as one of North America’s largest telecommunications reference libraries, as well as group and individual sightseeing tours along with educational outreach via their Traveling Trunks program, this facility is sure to please.
This museum, established in 1987, offers a fascinating perspective into the development of communications technology over time. Perfect for families or groups alike, admission is free year-round at this fascinating attraction.
Volunteer Opportunities
Edmonton’s Telephone History Museum displays one of North America’s finest collections of antique phones and switchboards, such as wooden crank wall phones with classic rotary dial telephones; working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches; operator switchboards; outside plant displays of poles cables and splicing equipment; as well as an extensive cataloged telecom reference library.
Work closely with staff to give tours of the museum and historic houses (Wolf House Museum, Goodnow House and Hartford House), educational programs like field trips as well as gardening (planting, weeding and general maintenance) during summer months along with providing interpretive educational programs associated with them.
Rehousing images from the CCHM photograph collection into archival quality sleeves requires scanning, sorting duplicates, and excessively damaged records into envelopes labeled with Personal/Family, Subject, Street/Address numbers – an excellent opportunity for those with an excellent attention to detail and listening abilities.
