The Museum fosters enthusiasm for engineering by juxtaposing modern telecommunications technology with vintage equipment from days gone by. It features working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switch equipment, operator switchboards, outside plant displays including poles, wire, and splicing tools as well as an archived telephone reference library.
Roseville Telephone Museum was established by retired telecommunications employees. Today it boasts one of North America’s finest collections of antique telephone equipment dating from Alexander Graham Bell’s original gallows frame phone to classic rotary dial phones and antique line insulators.
Winter Park
Winter Park is known for its old Florida charm and architectural history is part of what gives Winter Park its distinct character. Our Historical Society works diligently to research, preserve and share this history through free educational exhibits, lecture series and outreach programs.
The Museum provides visitors with an engaging hands-on experience to demonstrate how communication technology has changed throughout its history. You can try your hand at operating a switchboard while learning about the telephone company’s role in connecting our community.
Crealde School of Art collaborated with Winter Park City officials and Hannibal Square residents from west Winter Park to create the Heritage Center as an enduring tribute to this historic neighborhood. Featuring more than 200 photographs and oral histories documenting Hannibal Square’s past, present, and future development.
Roseville
Roseville’s Telephone Historical Centre provides a window into the history of communication technology. Housed in an old phone building, this museum boasts one of the world’s finest collections of antique phones and equipment dating back to 1876 – managed by active and retired Bell System employees who donate their time. On display are rare phones such as those made by Alexander Graham Bell himself as well as an early switchboard; additionally there is also an impressive array of colorful line insulators for viewing pleasure.
The museum features a children’s area, which provides young visitors with an educational and entertaining experience, helping to foster an appreciation for history. Furthermore, there is a gift shop selling items related to telecom history.
Roseville Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting local history. Additionally, the society runs a museum which showcases artifacts on display on every first Saturday of each month.
Seattle
Centurylink’s Duwamish Central Office houses an incredible collection of historic telephone equipment. As the oldest and complete telephone museum west of the Mississippi, its offerings include old electo-mechanical switching equipment as well as an extensive library on telephone technology. Furthermore, it houses old teletype machines, analog carrier equipment and pay phones – an amazing collection indeed!
The Museum boasts working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central-office switches, antique telephones and switchboards, outside plant equipment such as poles, cables and splicing gear from its collection, plus its cataloged telecommunications reference library for researchers.
On the second-floor of the museum is where you’ll find an abundance of old telephones and their equipment, many of them still working and cared for by volunteers, complete with their original lines connected. The museum exhibits provide a fascinating journey back in time before internet.
Edmonton
The Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre boasts one of the most extensive collections of antique telephones in North America and should not be missed by history enthusiasts or those just interested in phone history. Perfect for family outings and school field trips alike, its four-story building houses an amazing array of communication equipment and communication devices.
The museum is a non-profit institution supported through membership fees and research grants. Its purpose is to preserve the history of telecommunications. Their collection includes operator switchboards, working models of Bell’s first commercial phone and numerous pieces from throughout its long history. There is also a small theatre featuring educational films.
The Jefferson Barracks Park Telephone Building houses the museum, operated by volunteers from Southwestern Bell, AT&T and Telecom Pioneers (a non-profit 501(c)(3) employee service organization). The facility houses working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches as well as antique telephones; an outdoor plant display complete with poles cables and tools, an extensive reference library as well as working central office switches that feature Panel/Crossbar electromechnical switching mechanisms; as well as antique phones from previous eras and numerous antique phones from prior eras are all featured here!
