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All the United States Maine Ellsworth Telephone Museum

Telephone Museum

As communication goes completely wireless, this Maine museum remembers all the wires that got us to this point.

Ellsworth, Maine

Added By
Kelly Christian
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Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
Operator Switchboard Demonstration   john15 / Atlas Obscura User
Demonstration of a “Strowger’ switch   john15 / Atlas Obscura User
Telephone Museum   http://alamoosooklakesideinn.com/
Telephone Museum   Michelle Enemark for Atlas Obscura
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About

Tucked away in a Maine warehouse, the Telephone Museum has collected and preserves the nearly completely obsolete technology that was once the backbone of not only global communication but the very stepping stones which have led us to our current state of wireless ubiquity. 

Established in 1984 as the monolithic Bell Systems monopoly was dispersing, the Telephone Museum had the unique opportunity to save and refurbish a rare piece of telephonic technology known as the "Panel" which became the jewel of their collection. Over the years they continued to collect disused artifacts and equipment from the days of switchboards and exchanges. Old crank phones, hand-operated switchboards, and other antique talking apparatus are on display in the museum and in full working order. Guests are encouraged to pick up the receiver and make an analog call to each other in the museum. 

As the evolution of telephonic technology advances and the actual operation of communication becomes increasingly ephemeral, the Telephone Museum is making sure that hard work and innovation of the physical phone network is not forgotten and is in fact revered! 

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Museums And Collections Museums Telephones

Community Contributors

Added By

kellyandeath

Edited By

EricGrundhauser, Meg, john15, lisalydia

  • EricGrundhauser
  • Meg
  • john15
  • lisalydia

Published

July 11, 2014

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Sources
  • http://telephone.mainememory.net/page/2355/display.html
  • http://sundance-communications.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/525288/My_trip_to_The_Telephone_Museu
  • http://alamoosooklakesideinn.com/?p=1123
Telephone Museum
166 Winkumpaugh Rd
Ellsworth, Maine, 04605
United States
44.637426, -68.569558
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

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Ellsworth, Maine

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ellsworth

Ellsworth

Maine

Places 3

Nearby Places

Big Chicken Barn

Ellsworth, Maine

miles away

Finn's Irish Pub

Ellsworth, Maine

miles away

Cursed Memorial of Colonel Buck

Bucksport, Maine

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ellsworth

Ellsworth

Maine

Places 3

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