We have had visitors from all 50 states, Washington D.C. and 27 countries.
Thanks to our visitors, we have received a TripAdvisor Traveler Ranking of #2 of 504 Things To Do In Saint Louis and #1 of 56 Museums!
Here are some reviews our visitors have posted about their visit to the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum.
A+ Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum! What a wonderful Spring Break outing on an unexpectedly cold day in St. Louis. Surprisingly the kids (ages 13, 12, 11 and 8) were all interested and engaged throughout our tour ... many thanks to our docent, Carol! Both fun and educational for the kids and a bit of nostalgia for the grown ups. A+ ~Rachel H (Trip Advisor)
Great museum on the history of the telephone This is a very interesting, well done museum. A great collection of old phones and other equipment. Great for kids to see things they've never heard of with opportunities to dial a phone. Interesting to see old operator switch desks and switch equipment. One room filled with old novelty phones (a few of which I had owned). Just a lot of fun. Bob was a great tour guide. In addition to knowing the collection, he had a lot of insight into the renovation of the building in which it is housed - he helped with a lot of the renovation. It's located in a beautiful, huge park on the Mississippi River, next to a National Guard post and a National Cemetery. ~ IM Jennings (Trip Advisor)
Wonderful Tour. Our favorite side trip in St. Louis Great collection showing the history of telephones from the beginning - well displayed with detailed placards. I highly recommend having a docent show you through, ours was fantastic and put the displays in perspective. ~ MW (Trip Advisor)
Excellent Museum - don't miss While on a motor coach (bus) tour from the Chicago area to visit sights along Route 66 our tour company chose the Telephone Museum for a stop and we are glad they did. It was one of the most interesting stops on our trip.
Their collection of telephones and related exhibits are wonderful. Each item is tagged with a complete description. The best asset of the museum is the docents. Both were former telephone company employees and have a vast knowledge and share it it a worthwhile presentation. Carol was our docent and she is not only knowledgeable but also has a great sense of humor. ~Duane B (Trip Advisor)
Great place to visit What a fun trip down memory lane! Our family, which includes my 80-year old father, and our kids, ages 10 and 15, loved this little museum with plenty of hands-on exhibits. A great way to spend the morning at a museum that opens before most do! ~Maria H (Trip Advisor)
A Smart Tour of Phone History by People Who Lived It A great little museum run by volunteers who care. Sharon gave us a lovely tour of the thoughtfully planned exhibits, which ranged from some of the first phones with magneto cranks to early cell phones and weird designer phones of the 90's.
We got to patch calls through at operator consoles, see mechanical switching in action, look through very old phone books, and even see how to climb a phone pole. My wife and I both walked away with a much clearer understanding of phone history and mechanics. Many of the volunteers worked for the phone company, so they have fascinating stories and insight to share. I highly recommend a visit. ~Jonathan (Trip Advisor)
Charming Museum My extended family visited the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum. It is a small museum developed by telephone company retirees who also serve as the volunteer staff.
This little museum is a gem with many interesting exhibits including telephones dating from the beginning to now. My grandchildren, ages 5, 8, 8 and 10 were utterly charmed by the equipment. Using the dial phones was a new experience for these guys.
The museum staff was two ladies who had retired from Ma Bell and had lots of information peppered with personal stories. I love the small manageable museums that pack a lot into a small space. It is joy well worth a visit. ~Benjamin Gardner (Trip Advisor)
A Hidden Gem of a Museum We chose to go to the museum from its quick mention on Atlas Obscura and were very glad that we made the decision. It was a highlight of our few sightseeing days in St. Louis. We learned a lot about the history of the actual equipment and the industry in general.
Our guide was Carol and she was one of the best docents that we have ever had in a museum, very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. She is a volunteer, as are all of the staff members and a former Bell employee.
The cost is minimal and there is also a small shop area filled with great inexpensive telephone memorabilia. The museum is clean, light and extremely well organized. We cannot recommend a visit any more highly. ~ Melaney R (Trip Advisor)
Amazing Telephone History The museum is located at the Jefferson Military Barracks in a small building that used to be base housing for junior officers. In this unassuming building you will find a welcoming staff to guide you through the telephone history of the region. Our guide for this venture was Ken, a remarkable, friendly, and funny historian, The museum is divided into rooms with telephones and equipment the beginning. There are hands on displays and a tremendous variety of items to see. We were amazed at how much was carefully displayed in this museum. This is a MUST see when in the area, you will NOT be disappointed. ~ PAFABPT (Trip Advisor)
Interesting museum staffed by volunteers. Well worth the $5/person admission fee. The guide even managed to get my there-under-protest teen to participate and enjoy it too! ~Amy F (Google)
Wonderful little museum! Very well maintained and clean. We were given a personal tour for no extra cost. The gentlemen was very nice and knowledgeable. We learned so many new things! Lots of neat items on display. We visited for a homeschool field trip and it was definitely worth it! A few items in a shop where you come in, if you would like to take a souvenir home! Safe area, with several other things to do if you have time! ~ Marianna (Google)
What a great place! So much better than I expected. Found my house I grew up in, in the 1967 phonebook, YO6-3491. ~ Dan H (Facebook)
Amazing Staff and Great Displays Absolutely amazing museum. The people that are running it are super friendly. They offer a guided tour that gives so much insight into the history. The tour guide was so friendly and great with my 8-year-old. She answered all of her curious mind questions.
There was interactive displays of rotary phones, switchboards, and more. Its small, but its a great place. There is so much to see. Phone books, telephone company memorabilia, different telephone shapes, and more! This is the best small museum I have been to ever. If you get a chance to go, it is highly recommended. ~Rosemary S (Trip Advisor)
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