The Telephone Historical Centre in Edmonton offers visitors a fascinating glimpse back in time to explore how modern communications networks were made possible using electromechanical marvels from long ago. First opened on Dec 3, 1987 in Old Strathcona and later relocated to its present day location at Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre, this museum first welcomed guests on Dec 3, 1987.
Visitor Check-In
At the Telephone Historical Centre, visiting guests are welcomed quickly and seamlessly with Joan’s no-fuss visitor check-in software. Visitors receive digital invites with QR codes to scan when they arrive, eliminating paper sign-in forms altogether and ensuring a swift greeting by their host or receptionist upon their arrival. Furthermore, instant notifications inform hosts/receptionists when visitors are approaching so that they may prepare themselves appropriately before meeting up with visitors when they reach the lobby; facial coverings are recommended for all visitors and Joan can make this process even faster and more efficient – click to learn more!
Admission
The Telephone Historical Centre can be visited free-of-charge; donations are gratefully accepted. It can be found within the Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre, home of other Edmonton attractions like the Canadian Museum of Nature and Science.
The museum features an expansive collection of telephones and equipment from throughout history, from wall-mounted, operator-directed hand cranked handsets made from solid wood to today’s pocket-sized touch screen cellular devices. Visitors can see how communications have progressed since 1800 in Alberta.
From Edmonton’s very first phone imported into Edmonton to today’s cutting edge cellular technology, the Telephone Historical Centre is an educational museum that will capture everyone’s interest. Parents and children alike will have fun exploring together while discovering how life has been revolutionized thanks to the telephone – for more information visit its official website.
Guided Tours
Displays such as a real, working switchboard, step-by-step private automatic branch exchange and decorator phones illustrate how wired telephone networks have progressed from their early electromechanical inventions to today’s cell phone technology. Learn about what innovations spurred others, the businesses responsible for building it all out and the people who contributed throughout history in this interactive museum of telecommunications history.
The Ohio Statehouse Monument Cell Phone Audio Tour allows visitors to set their own pace when exploring its grounds, learning more about Ohio’s rich past through sculpture collection and historic rooms. Simply locate phone numbers listed here (or in the ground-floor Map Room) on monuments or signs across Capitol Square and call them for a two to three minute description of each area.
The Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre opened on December 3, 1987 in an Old Strathcona former telephone exchange building and moved to Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre in central Edmonton in 2004. However, its foundation voted in April to dissolve due to relevancy, financial issues and structural problems as reasons for closure.
Special Events
Since 1957, The Museum has provided an archive and exhibits that illustrate the evolution of telecommunications through collections and exhibits. We are a private non-profit organization supported by membership dues and research fees.
The Telephone Historical Centre offers an exciting calendar of events throughout the year, such as lectures, special exhibits and educational programs.
We welcome field trip requests from local schools and have hosted numerous groups from abroad. Contact us for more information or to arrange a visit!
At the Museum, you’ll experience real, working telephones and switches from all eras of communication technology – from Alexander Graham Bell’s attic workshop to today’s mobile phones. Wall-mounted hand crank magneto phones, step-by-step private automatic branch exchanges and more will all be featured – along with electro-mechanical marvels that made all this possible!
