The Telephone Historical Centre archieves offers visitors an interactive history of telecom. It features an impressive collection of antique phones such as wooden crank wall phones with classic rotary dials; working panel and crossbar electromechanical switchboards; outdoor plant displays of poles and cables; as well as an expansive cataloged telecom reference library.
History of the Telephone
As an indispensable communication device, the telephone has long been a part of modern society. But its use was initially met with much skepticism and fear among many individuals – many feared that voices on the other end could reveal secrets they held dear, or were worried that its wires contained electrical impulses which might shock them; some elderly individuals still refuse to touch a telephone for fear of electric shocks!
At first, telephone signals would become garbled over long distances, so Bell attempted to find a solution by creating an effective exchange system and phone numbering scheme that assigned subscribers numbers rather than names.
The Telephone Historical Centre boasts an incredible assortment of antique telephones, telecommunications technology and research documents dating back to 1987 when retired ED TEL employees established this unique museum in Canada. Boasting operating central office step switches, operator switchboards, working wooden wall phones and crank telephones as well as historical Rockville Centre telephone directories and technical manuals related to telephone equipment; its collection also makes up Canada’s only facility of its kind.
Exhibits
The telephone has long been an indispensable feature of modern life, but its history dates back much further. This museum provides an engaging overview of communication technology’s evolution with an expansive collection of antique phones and equipment from centuries past, such as Alexander Graham Bell’s gallows frame phone and Thomas A. Watson’s thumper phone by Thomas A. Watson; also featured are framed artwork and scrapbooks with historic telephone directories and technical manuals from years gone by.
Established by retired ED TEL employees in 1987, this unique facility provides a fascinating glimpse into the development of telecom technology. It features working Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office step switches; operator switchboards; antique wooden crank wall phones featuring classic rotary dial telephones; outside plant displays featuring poles, wires and splicing equipment as well as an extensive cataloged reference library to give visitors an immersive experience of telecommunications history.
Traveling Trunks provides group and individual sightseeing tours along with educational outreach through interactive stations, oversize models and installations as well as projections featuring songs from past telecommunication services eras allowing visitors of all ages to experience life before cellphones.
Library
No matter your interest – whether that be history of communications technology, or simply exploring Edmonton’s unique telecom heritage – this unique museum provides something for all visitors. Explore a crank phone, discover an antique switchboard and access one of North America’s largest reference libraries on communications equipment at Canada’s sole telecommunications museum since 1987 – founded by retired ED TEL employees and opening as the Telephone Historical Centre in Canada. Experience history first hand at one of the world’s finest collections of antique telephones, working panel and crossbar electromechanical central office step switches, operator switchboards and outside plant displays of poles cables and splicing equipment – not forgetting group or family sightseeing tours – available to visitors of any age! This must-see attraction for any history enthusiast!
This collection includes historic Rockville Center telephone directories dating back to 1895 on microfilm and microfiche, as well as various technical manuals related to phone equipment. At present, access is by appointment only.
