One of the largest telephone museums in North America, this museum showcases a comprehensive history of telecom technology dating back to Alexander Graham Bell’s attic workshop in 1876. You’ll find everything from crank wall phones and rotary dialers up through sleek cell phones – something no other museum in North America offers.
Full operational pieces illuminate the social and technical significance of communications advances, including working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches, step-by-step private automatic branch exchange displays, as well as outside plant displays featuring poles, cables and splicing tools.
History
Since 1990, Telecommunications History Group (THG) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded by both active and retired telecom employees to collect and preserve historic materials that may otherwise be lost through building demolition or use changes. Our founders saw how such items were being left behind when buildings became outdated or were no longer needed, leading them to create this organization to preserve them for posterity.
The museum houses one of the largest collections of telephones in North America. Ranging from solid wood wall phones with rotary dials and working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches to antique phones, switchboards, outdoor plant displays including poles and cables as well as a cataloged telecommunications reference library, it offers visitors an exciting variety of equipment on display.
Since opening on December 3rd 1987 in an old Telephone Exchange building in Old Strathcona, the museum has relocated to Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre for improved accessibility. Experienced docents both current and retired telecommunications employees provide tours through all exhibits of the museum for both groups or individual visits.
Exhibits
Today, making telephone calls seems almost like magic: simply pick up your cell phone and press a button – suddenly you are speaking with mom in Philadelphia or a friend in New York! However, that wasn’t always the case.
The museum commemorates over a century of telecom history and boasts one of the largest collections of communications equipment in North America. A knowledgeable docent will lead each tour.
Visitors learn about the history and evolution of telecom technology from solid wood wall mounted candlestick phones to sleek mobile phones, with displays featuring working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office step switches; display cases filled with antique wooden box phones; candlestick telephones and novelty phones as well as outside plant displays with poles, cables, splicing tools and equipment – as well as an extensive telecommunications reference library – making for an interactive visit!
This unique museum could easily have fallen victim to outdated technology or become bogged down with details about hyperlocal history; yet, it strikes just the right balance – providing visitors with a fun family outing, educational school field trip experience or simply another stop along any sightseeing tour of the area.
Admission
Telephone Historical Centre is an incredible museum dedicated to our most essential communications device – phones. Visitors will gain an amazing look into their history from Alexander Graham Bell’s Gallows Frame phone through to St Louis’ first commercial telephone installed in 1878, plus operator switchboards, military telephones from World War I through Gulf War, classic red K-6 telephone boxes and much more!
The museum provides an enjoyable self-guided experience, and is open to the public. Situated in Water Street neighbourhood, with several parking options nearby (street and garage parking available); also there are public lots and garages within a six minute walk offering parking validation to members. Established by retired ED TEL employees and opened to visitors in 1987. Now located within Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre of Edmonton.
Parking
Established in 1987, Telephone Historical Centre preserves Edmonton’s telecom history by collecting, organizing, documenting and exhibiting. It features working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches; antique phones; switchboards; outdoor plant displays with poles and cables spliced together as well as an organized library on telecom history; knowledgeable docents from ED TEL and other phone companies serve as guides through exhibits; various parking options are nearby including free street parking or metered spaces within six minutes walk from the museum; there’s even an enclosed public lot that’s only six minutes walk away – everything you could ever need for your telecom history research needs!
