In Roseville Telephone Company’s old building lies the Roseville Telephone Museum with rooms packed full of wooden wall-mounted phones, classic rotary dials, novelty items and antique line insulators – as well as its impressive collection.
Established by retired ED TEL employees and accredited with Museums Alberta, this museum houses an operator switchboard as well as military phones from WWI through Gulf War as well as hundreds of phone-related items.
Admission
Making phone calls these days seems almost like magic: just pick up your cell phone, press a button, and suddenly you’re speaking with mom in Philadelphia or your best friend in New York! However, if you ever wondered how the magic worked behind this phenomenon then The Telephone Museum can be an excellent source of answers.
Established in 1987 in Edmonton’s Old Strathcona neighborhood and relocated two years later for accessibility purposes at Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre, this communications history museum has quickly become one of North America’s premier hands-on museums. Exhibits include working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office step switches; antique phones; switchboards; outdoor plant displays with poles cables splicing tools equipment as well as an expansive telecom reference library.
The Jefferson Barracks Park Telephone Museum is an accredited member of the Association of Museums Alberta and features one of the world’s finest collections of original telephone-related materials. Housed in an 1896 building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, volunteers from Southwestern Bell, AT&T and Telecom Pioneers (a non-profit employee service organization) maintain its collection.
Exhibits
Experience the history of communication innovation at this exquisite museum, from smoke signals to text messages; you will be amazed to see just how far society has come in just 150 years!
Established in 1987 and relocated to Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre in central Edmonton by 2004 for improved accessibility, this museum is managed by Telecom Pioneers (a non-profit 501(c)(3) Bell System employee service organization). Their extensive collection features working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office step switches; antique telephones and switchboards; replicas of small town America independent phone exchanges featuring glass insulators; outside plant displays featuring poles cables splicing equipment tools as well as cataloged Telecommunications reference library items.
This remarkable collection of communications history celebrates the innovation, craftsmanship and industry of telecom workers and its evolution since Alexander Graham Bell’s accidental invention of telephone in 1876 up until today’s smart phones. Discover fascinating tales such as switchboard operators who stayed put despite flooding floodwaters or mothers who warned troops in New Mexico of an invasion! This impressive compilation celebrates all that makes telecom so dynamic!
Docent-led Tours
Established in 1987 in Old Strathcona and relocated two years later for greater accessibility, this hands-on museum houses one of North America’s premier collections of antique phones and equipment. Featuring working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches, operator switchboards, antique telephones, outdoor plant displays with poles cables splicing tools equipment as well as a comprehensive Telecommunications Reference Library; knowledgeable docents (both current and retired AT&T employees) provide guided tours throughout its collection.
Enjoy a thrilling family outing, school field trip or add the museum to your group sightseeing tour experience for an engaging visit. The museum’s impressive collection of memorabilia offers an intriguing look into how communications technology has advanced since Alexander Graham Bell invented telephones until today’s sleek cellular phones; also depicting how telephone networks impacted communities in great ways.
Group Tours
This museum boasts one of the world’s premier collections of antique telephones and equipment, making for an enjoyable family outing, educational field trip or group sightseeing tour experience.
The museum features working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches; original phone booths; operator switchboards; military telephones from WWI through Gulf War; novelty phones; plus outside plant displays featuring poles, cables and splicing equipment as well as an extensive telecommunications reference library.
Telecommunications Heritage Gallery was established by current and retired telecom employees in 1990 as a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization to preserve this important part of local history, share it with the public, and receive accreditation by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Historical Resources. Guided tours for groups of 10 or more can be booked ahead. Plus, THG features wheelchair accessibility.
