713 E. Grace Street Richmond, Virginia
23218
(804) 691- 3498 Voice Mail Only
Appointments No Longer Available
E-mail: vtmrva@wcast.info
June 1, 2022
We remain closed.
For the safety of our invited
guest and dedicated
volunteers, we will remain closed until further notice.
However, we continue to offer
our off-site group
historical and technical lectures upon request.
E-mail: vtmrva@wcast.info
To schedule an off-site
group lecture, please call or e-mail us
with a place/date/time request.
Someone will get back in touch with you soon.
Brief Video Tour -
Users of Apple Products - iPhones / Tablets
Brief
Video Tour - Users of Android / Microsoft Products
The Museum began assembly in 1991 in the
back of the Pioneer Office at 3520 Elwood Avenue in Richmond, Virginia.
Dedicated retirees gathered exhibits, wired switchboards to phones, set up
displays, cataloged items and finally opened in May of 1993 during the annual
Old Dominion Pioneer Reunion. Exhibits expanded over the years,
with corporate contributions of equipment representing telephony over the years
from outside plant, central offices, pbx's and private homes. Photos, tools,
paper records, manuals and payroll cards represented a portion of items.
Building signs, Vail Awards, photographs, newsletters and even some of a
retiree's personal library accumulated in 1999. Bell Atlantic was completing a
merger with Nynex and advised staff that the Ellwood building was to be vacated.
That move was delayed until the GTE-Bell Atlantic merger formed Verizon. After
things settled from that merger, Verizon provided space for the Museum in the
713 E. Grace Street building. Packing began in September 2004, with the move
completed in October of the year. Setup at the new location was completed in the
spring of 2005, with the official opening in June. All work after the move has
again been done by retiree volunteers. The new location has a library space,
which holds telephony and Pioneer items for research and simply browsing.
Currently the museum is open by appointment, by calling 804-691-3498.
Special Links
Our Pioneer Reference Library on Site
History of the Telephone Pioneers
The Old Virginia Telephone Museum
1991-2005
Early Period Hand-Held Receiver - 1877-1878
Copyright © 2003,2022 www.wcast.info - All rights reserved.
.