Discover the history of communications technology with this engaging museum. Exhibits include working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches, antique telephones and switchboards as well as outside plant displays such as poles, wires, cables, splicing equipment and tools with an expansive cataloged reference library.
The Telephone Historical Centre was created by retired ED TEL employees. After facing relevance and financial issues as well as succession planning concerns, its members decided in April 2019 to dissolve it.
School Field Trips
The Telephone Historical Centre was founded in 1987 as a non-profit charitable organization in Edmonton by retired ED TEL employees, with its museum situated nearby Old Strathcona near 108 Ave and Prince of Wales Armouries.
School field trips and groups are welcome at this museum, which chronicles over 100 years of communications technology in Roseville and nationwide. Exhibits include working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central-office switches; outside plant displays of poles, wires, cables, splicing equipment and tools as well as antique telephones and memorabilia from Roseville plants; antique telephones as well as memorabilia are featured as exhibits.
Students can explore this collection of 1920s artifacts via guided or self-guided museum tours, with museum educators available to answer any questions and provide classroom-use materials as necessary. Furthermore, virtual field trip experiences are also offered through this virtual tour platform.
Group Sightseeing Tours
Telephone Historical Centre staff would be pleased to conduct group tours through their 4,500-square foot museum, with exhibits such as working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches; antique telephones, switchboards, telecommunications equipment; outside plant displays with poles, cables, splicing equipment and tools; as well as an extensive cataloged telecommunications reference library.
The Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre was a museum founded by retired ED TEL employees that closed due to issues regarding relevancy, finances and succession planning in April 2019. Rent-A-Tour guides are former ED TEL employees that possess knowledge, enthusiasm and an entertaining approach that makes an informative tour an engaging experience for all ages.
Housed in a restored 1896 building in Jefferson Barracks Park, this history museum provides interactive “how-things-work” exhibits designed to foster interest in engineering and history. Their collection includes telephones from late 1800s through 2000s as well as hundreds of pieces of related equipment and memorabilia spanning their existence; additionally they boast full size Clinton C.Os and partial Step-by-Step private automatic branch exchanges from Unity Maine for added curiosity!
Docent-Led Tours
Guided tours at our Museum will enable you to gain fascinating knowledge of both our collection and current exhibitions from an experienced tour guide. Tours typically last one hour long and are free for members/included with admission for non-members.
Discover Edmonton’s rich telecommunications history at this interactive museum, complete with working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central-office switches, antique telephones, switchboards, outside plant displays with poles, cables, splicing equipment and tools as well as many telephone related items.
At Detroit 67: Perspectives exhibition, guests can engage in an educational 90-minute experience that explores key economic and social forces that contributed to its chaotic summer of 1967 and its wider ramifications for Detroit. Tours take place Thursdays and Fridays beginning at 10:30 a.m. with additional tours offered every 30 minutes thereafter until 3:30 p.m. Docent Choice tours allow your guide to highlight exhibits at their discretion depending on availability – tours may change frequently based on this option.
