From Alexander Graham Bell’s Gallows Frame Telephone to Thomas Watson’s Thumper Phone, this museum showcases an expansive collection of antique telecommunication equipment dating back to its introduction in 1875. Additionally, a working Central Office step switch with operator panels and crossbar electromechanical switching is provided as well as an impressive library specializing in telephone publications.
This museum stands out by offering visitors direct interaction with historical equipment. Collections include rotary dial wall phones, novelty Princess phones and candlestick wall phones – plus manual system phones imported to Edmonton in 1885.
The Museum
Established by retired employees of Edmonton D TEL, this museum honors local telephone history while providing education. The exhibits show how communication technology has changed through time – from wooden wall phones to rotary dial phones and beyond. Also featured are working central office step switches such as the Operator Panel and Crossbar electromechanical switch from 1900, antique telephone booths, outside plant displays with poles cables & splicing tools as well as antique telephone booths!
This non-profit museum is one of North America’s premier telecom museums, providing both an entertaining and educational collection. It pays homage to all those who designed, erected and buried lines connecting us all together.
This museum boasts many vintage directories and technical manuals as well as vintage phones like rotary phones, candlestick phones and wooden wall phones from bygone eras. Furthermore, its impressive archives contain a two position Kellogg universal switchboard as well as numerous telecom documents that make for fascinating viewing – whether for research purposes, sightseeing purposes or simply marvelling at advances made in communications technology this museum should not be missed!
The Archives
Museum featuring an impressive selection of vintage telecom equipment dating back to 1888, this museum boasts one of the largest collections in North America; including candlestick wall phones and rotary dial phones to a fully functioning central office switchboard with operator panel and crossbar electromechanical switching.
The Gridley Museum of Independent Telephony in Illinois is an independent museum dedicated to preserving telecom history and was established by both active and retired telecom professionals. This Museum houses numerous interesting displays such as an interactive Step-by-Step Private Automatic Branch Exchange exhibit as well as plant displays featuring poles, cables, splicing tools and antique line insulators.
As a premier resource for dance historians, students, and the general public, its holdings include primary source materials on dance’s development such as theatrical costumes and set designs, ballets and choreographies, music scores, correspondences, original print media publications as well as organizational records from NYC dance organizations as well as personal papers of dancers and scholars including Lincoln Kerstein’s archived work.
The Library
The Telephone Historical Centre in Edmonton, Alberta boasts a beautiful collection of antique telecommunications equipment as well as an extensive research archive featuring microfilm copies and Research Catalogue versions of early directories. Visitors to this museum can explore communications history through displays such as Alexander Graham Bell’s Gallows Frame and Thomas Watson’s Thumper Phone from Alexander Graham Bell through to modern wireless technologies on display.
Museums that preserve historic communications technology rely on extensive technical documentation as well as historical records and patent models to construct exhibits that are informative and captivating for their visitors. Such displays often spark thoughts about how new technologies may impact business practices, emergency services delivery methods and social norms.
Visits to museums like this one are also an eye-opener; they serve as a reminder that new communication technology does not evenly spread throughout society – which makes the Gridley Museum of Independent Telephony in Illinois all the more meaningful. Here, local cooperatives and independent telephone companies established in rural communities were celebrated while teaching us all the importance of keeping telecom services available to all.
