Roseville Telephone
Museum in Roseville, California—If
you don't know a candlestick, a crank or a rotary dial, you are among the
ranks of phone users who need to chill and learn from whence the modern cell
phone originated. One of the finest
telephone museums in the United States and perhaps the world will spell this
out for you, much as people used to spell out a phone exchange when dialing
a number.
Located in a
gem of a city not far from the California State Capitol where power deals are brokered on phones much
smaller than your luncheon sandwich, Roseville Telephone Museum
features big phones, trendy phones in fashion colors and models that look
like every cartoon character. The genesis of phones began with a
big box wall unit made of solid oak. The convenient candlestick phone was a model
made of
heavy metal that would not slide or fall off the table easily. It allowed
people to sit while talking to friends, family and neighbors. As
phones progressed to shiny black models with hand sets containing both the
speaker to talk into and a separate speaker for listening in one molded piece held
conveniently in one hand, you
could even walk around the kitchen or lie on a bed while talking. By the
mid-1900's, nearly everyone had some
sort of phone service, even it if it was a party line shared by six or seven
residences. For an in depth look at the early phones and the
progression of telecommunications, Roseville Telephone Museum provides one
of the best documented histories you'll find.
Containing 4,500
square feet of exhibit space with four galleries that include nearly every
phone, switchboard and telecommunication device imaginable, the museum has gathered a collection that includes the
original telephones designed by Alexander Graham Bell, circa 1876,
switchboards, colorful antique line insulators and rare telephone booths.
There are hands-on exhibits kids love, allowing them to make a call on the
magneto switchboard actually used by Roseville Telephone in 1914.
Since the phone
museum opened in 1994, it has become one of the best sources for
telecommunications information and education. Thousands of school children
file through the museum annually, as well as tourists and visitors from
around the world who enjoy seeing treasures that jog memories. In addition
to the visual displays, there are tidbits of information a tour guide will
tell you. For instance, did you know that Alexander Graham
Bell tried to sell all rights to
the telephone patent to the Western Union Telegraph Company for $100,000 in
1876? Western Union's president, William Orton turned him down saying, "This
electrical toy has far too many shortcomings to ever be considered a
practical means of communication."
Roseville Telephone
Museum examines the inventor, his fabulous phone, the early phone
technologies such as the switchboard and the development of telephones and
phone service over a 100+ year span. Not only is the collection
comprehensive, the exhibit items are pristine. Thanks to Roseville's
very own telephone company that's served its community since 1914, the
history of the telephone is preserved for generations who use a small,
hand-held device with a view screen for playing video games, listening to
music, taking photos and on occasion, conversing with
someone across the room or far away.
Founded and
supported by Roseville phone company, Sure West, the beautiful brick
facility is located on 106 Vernon Street, Roseville, California 95678. Tours
are provided by arrangement. Call:
(916) 786-1621. www.rosevilletelephonemuseum.org
For information on
planning your trip to this must-see destination, Roseville, California, contact Placer Valley
Tourism, 300 Harding Blvd., Suite #109, Roseville, CA 95747. Phone:
(916) 773-5400. www.placertourism.com
