The museum houses an impressive collection of telephones and equipment for children to learn more about telecommunications history. It is an engaging place where both adults and children can come together.
Roseville Telephone Museum showcases an extensive collection of antique phones and associated equipment that chronicles over a century of communication technology in Roseville and internationally. Operating under volunteer oversight, this non-profit museum exhibits over one century of communication history in Roseville and beyond.
General Admission
This telephone museum was established by former Bell System employees and run entirely by volunteers, its purpose being to educate visitors of all ages on the history of telephone industry and its contributions to society.
The museum boasts an original phone dating back to 1878 – two years after Alexander Graham Bell invented them – as well as working central office step switches and operator switches as well as other telephone-related items.
Other exhibits at the museum include a full-scale replica of Alexander Graham Bell’s workshop, a thumper phone, and the actual bell used to notify Thomas Edison of President McKinley’s assassination. Furthermore, there is a collection of telephone-related tools and decorations such as crank wall phones and decorator phones for visitors’ use.
At the museum, your kids can learn all about phone history with an engaging guided tour from one of their knowledgeable guides. Plus, former telco workers can relive their glory days or share memories from the past with family and friends!
Special Events
The Museum of Telecommunications exhibits working equipment which illustrates the tangible history of telecommunications. Its collection traces the development of telephones from 1876, when Alexander Graham Bell first started building them, to modern mobile phones used today.
Since 1987, this non-profit 501(c)(3) museum has been operating within the Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre in central Prince of Wales. Established by retired ED TEL employees who founded it together, its many hands-on displays invite exploration by visitors.
Attractions at this museum include an authentic Step-by-Step private automatic branch exchange demonstrating its stepping switch principle, and an exhibit detailing phone technology’s evolution from early mobile phones through modern day cellular telephones. Visitors can even try dialing an old-fashioned rotary telephone! In addition, special events and educational resources for students studying telecom or history take place here as well.
Group Tours
The Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum is housed in a restored 1896 building. Featuring an incredible collection of telephones and memorabilia, this museum also provides many interactive how-things-work exhibits that make for the ideal family outing or group tour experience.
The museum houses a working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switch as well as antique manual, candlestick phones, rotary dial phones, telephone booths, line insulators and related equipment. There is also an operating Step-by-Step private automatic branch exchange demonstrating its stepping switch principle; and an outdoor plant display featuring poles, cables and splicing equipment.
The National History Telephone Museum (NHTM) features over 1000 artifacts related to telephone history. Visitors will enjoy browsing its display of wooden wall-mount and rotary dial telephones – particularly popular among visitors of all ages – along with early switchboards and novelty phones. Operated entirely by volunteers as a non-profit organization.
Volunteer Opportunities
Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum relies heavily on volunteers for many of its services and is always in need of enthusiastic, committed individuals who enjoy working directly with the public. Volunteers are needed to open and close the museum, greet visitors, answer their inquiries, as well as assist with various other tasks.
Volunteers are also needed in the office for cataloguing collections and data entry as well as setting up for special events. Volunteers with experience or education related to telecommunications or history are particularly welcome.
The Museum boasts a collection of telephone artifacts such as switchboards, rotary phones, candlestick phones, wooden wall mount telephones, Princess phones and flip phones that span multiple eras and types. We require volunteers to demonstrate these items during tours as well as staff our booth at Wildrose Antique Show featuring novelty phones such as Spiderman and Ronald McDonald models – so come be part of the fun! Donate today if you would like to volunteer!
