On the third floor, where the tours begin, we have a panel office,
Step By Step, 1Xbar, 5XBar, radio, power, and several PBX's. These are
all working switches.
There are many other displays in the crowed isles of the third floor and
include working Picture Phones, WECO fans, telephones, tools and
photographs of many of the Pacific Telephone, Pacific Northwest Bell and
WECO employees who contributed to making your telephones work over the
years.
What To Do
Even retired employees get breaks (or should that be "especially retired
employees get breaks"?) and the break area is the beginning of the tour
route. The coffee is located here; coffee and a doughnut being the rate
of
"pay" for a volunteer - if you get there in time for a doughnut.
But sometimes we have cookies to share with our visitors also.
Why Have A Telephone Equipment Museum?
The Vintage Telephone Equipment Museum was begun over 15 years ago by
some farsighted Telephone Pioneers who recognized that with advancing
technology, telephone equipment history was being lost.
Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Company, the local company before it
became part of U S WEST, provided space in an equipment building and
donated
much of what is there today. AT&T and Western Electric also have donated
historical equipment and documentation.
Our space is still located in the same working Qwest (now) equipment
building though we have now incorporated as a non-profit group and are now known as the Museum of Communications. Until our change in status to non-profit we were sponsered by Washington Chapter 30, TelecomPioneers and are proud of our association with them. Hard working volunteers, most of them retired Pioneers, installed and now
maintain the equipment in working order.
Who Volunteers?
Anyone with an interest in telephone history or in learning how it
all works is welcome to volunteer. Most volunteers
are TelecomPioneers but we do have some who come just because they are
interested.
If you would like to volunteer or donate items, please send
a message to qwest541@qwest.net or call the museum on (206) 767-3012.
Volunteer
How Do I Get There?
The museum is located at 7000 East Marginal Way South, Seattle,
Washington, 98108. The parking
lot (free parking) is behind the building as is the museum entrance.
The telephone number is (206) 767-3012 and the museum is open every
Tuesday
from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and by appointment other days. There is no
charge for admission but donations are gratefully accepted. Both floors
are fully accessible.
This is still a working building, if you try a door that is locked, you
are at the wrong door, please look for the
sign on the left of the building as you face it from the parking lot.
Talking Books
A group of dedicated volunteers repair the tape players used by the vision impaired to listen to books. They are always in need of additional volunteers. For more information please call (206) 464-6930.
Telephone Pioneer Amateur Radio Club
Meetings of the Telephone Pioneer Amateur Radio Club are also held here from time to time. More information about this group can be found under Washington Telecom Pioneers Do Things.
Questions?
Send us a note
Please send any comments or questions concerning the Museum of Communications - qwest541@qwest.net
Since January 1, 2001, updated June 2, 2008