Telephone Museum Of New Mexico

Great treasure of a hidden museum most people don't know about! I was surprised at the size and extensiveness of the collection in this museum. It's on multiple floors- 3 I believe. My favorite parts are all the old telephone switchboards and old phones from over time. There's a fun display of ones from around the 60's-90's that you can turn on to hear them play music and move and such. There is also a lot of information here about use of phones over time and in significant ways. There are several mannequin displays that talk about different stories. They're pretty hokey, but fun to watch. A volunteer has to graciously come turn them on for you. I really enjoyed my visit here and wanted to check it out for a long time. Unfortunately it is only open a couple weekdays for a couple hours. It is completely run by dedicated, knowledgeable volunteers!

Tucked away in the heart of Albuquerque , this quaint telephone museum may be small in size, but it's bursting with nostalgic charm and historical significance. From vintage rotary phones to examples ofCall centers, the museum showcases a delightful collection of telecommunication artifacts that span decades of technological evolution. Each exhibit is carefully curated, transporting visitors back in time and evoking a sense of wonder at the ingenuity behind these communication marvels.Despite its modest size, the museum packs a punch in terms of educational value. Informative displays and interactive exhibits offer insight into the evolution of telecommunication technology, allowing visitors to learn about everything from the invention of the telephone.The hours are very few, and far between because every person in there is a volunteer, many of them that grew up, working within the field !! I was give it a guided tour upon entry, and the gentleman was able to explain nuances about each exhibit. I never would have gleed otherwise ..Whether you're a tech enthusiast or simply curious about the history of communication, there's something here to captivate minds of all ages.What truly sets this museum apart is its intimate atmosphere and personalized experience. The passionate staff members are eager to share their knowledge and stories, adding a personal touch to the visitor's journey through telecommunication history. Their enthusiasm is infectious, making the museum feel more like a cherished community hub than a traditional tourist attraction. it is located in a building also utilized today by AT&T communications!! In summary, this small telephone museum may be easy to overlook, but it's definitely not to be missed. With its adorable charm, informative exhibits, and friendly staff, it offers a delightful experience that will leave visitors feeling both enlightened and enchanted. The museum entry fee is a modest, four dollars but you have to pay in cash , all of it is in donation to keep this place going for future generations! One of my favorite parts was seeing a kid play with a rotary phone for the first time and learning what it used to be like before cell phones

A massive yet completely underrated gem of a museum in downtown Albuquerque. They have limited hours and are staffed completely by volunteers, but don't let this deter you from coming. The volunteer docents are passionate about the incredible history contained within the museum's three floors. Only open from 10-1:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, they do, however have a new feature that makes it possible for anyone to visit from anywhere. Check out their Museum Virtual Tour at:https://unlimiteddronesolutions.com/telephonemuseumnmI cannot recommend this place any more highly.

What a wonderful find! This cute museum was packed full of vintage phones, switchboards, and equipment. The guides were knowledgeable and friendly. We learned how to operate a switchboard, how the first Army phones worked, and how the first pay phones worked. 10/10 highly recommend!

I never knew phones could be so interesting. When my wife and I first got here, an elderly gentlemen informed us that the museum was going to be closing in 45 minutes and acted like we probably shouldn't pay the $2 because of the time crunch. It seemed weird to us--we figured 45 minutes was plenty of time--so we said that it was okay and we'd still like to pay and check it out. We soon understood why the guy was skeptical about having only 45 minutes. This place is huge, full of history, and if you get a tour from one of the docents--Tom was our guide, and I'm pretty sure he's the president of the museum--you will be blown away.This place has four floors and is set up fairly chronologically. They have literally thousands of phones from over a century of history. Tom used to work the phone lines--he started back in the 50s--and had an extremely impressive amount of phone knowledge, including personal anecdotes. He was super passionate about phone history and by the end of our tour, I shared some of that passion. They have some audio stories on specific events in phone history--from Pancho Villa to NASA--which sometimes come with somewhat-cheesy mannequins models, but the drama of the tales themselves definitely overshadow any semi-creepy plastic humans staring back at you. Also, the mannequins are dressed in the clothing of the time period and set next to the specific phone artifacts. There are several rooms with several sets of these, and you learn a ton at each station. I've mentioned the thousands of phones but I'll mention it again. It is crazy how much this place has collected. Some of the operating boards are gigantic and still work. Tom was an expert at explaining everything in a way that made it easy to understand. In a time when most of us would have nervous breakdowns without our phones, this place really puts it all into perspective. You won't believe how complex a simple phone conversation used to be. Definitely go here. And get the tour.

Very cool museum! Three levels of historical items to look at. There was actually way more than what I expected. I can't speak highly enough to the amount of detail and original items that are on display. Only $2 to get in and tours are available. Special thanks to Nancy for doing an impromptu tour for me and my friends!

Super display and interactive presentation! The doucet on staff was very knowledgeable and helpful ! I gave a small donation and was directed to the gift shop where I picked out a puzzle for my granddaughter!!

Really enjoyed it. I dont think many take advantage of it. If you are staying in downtown Albuquerque check it out.

Very nice collection of telephone-related equipment dating from the 1890s. Excellent photo collection too!

We stopped here in August 2019 before school started. My 6th grader son loves "old" things and was keen on coming to the museum. There were three volunteers to greet us as we were the only patrons in the place. We had a personal tour with Susan. The tour was highly interesting and there were hands-on opportunities in couple spots in the museum. We went from the 2nd to the third to the bottom floor on our 2 hour tour. It took us from the Edison's dictaphone to satellites in space. My son especially liked the switchboards that were used before personal telephones were in every household. I would say the tour was appropriate for the older elementary kid to adults. It is a bargain at $2/adults. If you have an hour to spare, you can have fun learning about the evolution of the telephone industry.