History buffs and technology enthusiasts alike will enjoy visiting this museum, offering both hands-on experiences that demonstrate key moments in telecommunications’ evolution as we know it today, as well as insight into its iterative design processes that produced life-changing devices today.
The collection traces Alexander Graham Bell’s journey from solid wooden wall-mounted phones with operator direction to multifunctional smartphones in over 150 years.
Programs
Telecommunication museums serve as hubs for collecting, researching, organizing, documenting and exhibiting materials related to telephone communication technology for both children and adults alike. Many telecommunication museums exhibit working telecommunications equipment that illustrates its design processes that produce our interdependent world of communications technologies.
Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre was established by retired ED TEL employees in 1987 to give visitors a vivid glimpse into history through antique wooden box phones, candlestick wall phones, a functional Panel and Crossbar Electromechanical Central Office Switch as well as numerous antique phones from its collections. Visitors will experience all these aspects first-hand at this museum!
Museums offer various outreach programs for their communities such as guided and self-guided tours, hands-on activities, educational workshops that meet school curriculum requirements, as well as off-site community educational events like Traveling Trunk which brings a curated selection of artifacts and resources directly into communities that cannot visit the museum itself. Such efforts foster appreciation for technological innovations which enable today’s telecommunications while developing entrepreneurial minds that drive future connectivity.
Collections
These collections provide a window into the technology that makes modern communication possible, sparking curiosity and increasing appreciation of innovation, creativity, craftsmanship, and industry that contributed to modern connectivity.
At the Telephone Historical Centre, visitors can experience history first-hand – be it an educational outing, family fun day trip or sightseeing itinerary addition. Explore classic rotary dial phones and experiment with an intricate panel switchboard while witnessing how technology has advanced from Alexander Graham Bell’s solid wood wall-mounted devices to today’s sleek cellular phones!
Traveling Trunks Program, hosted by Museum Ambassadors, brings a selection of artifacts and educational resources from Telecommunications History to schools and community groups for an engaging hands-on experience that connects participants to pivotal moments of telecommunications history, showcase iterative design processes and foster discussions on how technology evolves over time. This program is open to participants of all ages.
Volunteers
Volunteers are at the core of our programs, making a meaningful impactful difference in the lives of older adults while making them feel connected to their community. Their heartwarming conversations have earned national recognition from foundations, institutions, and organizations like Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness.
Volunteers interacting with program participants are carefully selected and trained, then subjected to an intensive background check process that includes federal and county criminal and sex offender searches. Mon Ami provides a web-based system that enables telephone reassurance programs by making it simple to connect new call requests with volunteers who are available.
Museum Ambassadors provide visitors with an enhanced visitor experience by welcoming groups, circulating through public zones answering inquiries, directing visitors to programs and exhibitions, and answering any inquiries related to programs and exhibitions. Behind-the-Scenes volunteers offer their expertise by lending support in archives, libraries, conservation laboratories or curatorial divisions related to history.
Education
Telephone Historical Centres preserve artifacts that serve to generate an interest in technology, innovation and culture – from Alexander Graham Bell’s solid wood wall-mounted phones that required operator supervision all the way to modern smartphones with multifunctional capabilities. These museums document local telephone industries through directories, photographs and personal narratives. Furthermore, they host educational outreach programs for both children and adults that align with curriculum requirements while supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning. Furthermore, some provide off-site community educational programs like Traveling Trunks that bring artifacts and resources directly into communities unable to visit a museum directly.
The STEPS Community at AASLH offers an abundance of professional development opportunities ranging from webinars and recorded sessions, technical leaflets, reading materials and a comprehensive library. Take advantage of the STEPS Resource Center to build your personal collection of AASLH resources while remaining aware of forthcoming professional development opportunities – access it all from your Member Dashboard!
