Roseville Telephone Museum

About Us

Located in Roseville California, the Roseville Telephone Museum has one of the most extensive collections of antique telephones and memorabilia in the nation. The exhibits in the 4,500 square-foot museum chronicle and celebrate more than a century of communications technology in Roseville as well as nationally and internationally.

A visit to the Roseville Telephone Museum makes a fun and educational family outing, a great school field trip or a group sight-seeing tour destination. Our museum docents are current and retired employees who are passionate about telephone history and volunteer their time to share it with visitors of all ages.

Endowment of History

William Doyle founded Roseville Telephone Company (now SureWest) in 1914, as a rural provider of telephone services with 160 subscribers. Small town. Big dream. The company was born of an era rich in change and technological enlightenment. Products came and went and transformed with the times. It only made sense to chronicle these advancements, to preserve and display some reminders of the past.

In 1989, we set out on a mission to do just that. The nonprofit Roseville Telephone Museum celebrated its grand opening in 1994, displaying one of the finest collections of antique telephones and telephone memorabilia in the country. Professional museum curators usher visitors through the 4500-square foot, four-gallery exhibit, featuring a display of the original telephones designed by Alexander Graham Bell, circa 1876. Early switchboards and myriad novelty phones are also on display, treating guests to an educational and entertaining walk down memory lane. Hundreds of candlestick and early wooden wall telephones, colorful antique line insulators and rare telephone booths are just some of the other items on display. For a special treat, try your hand at making a call on the magneto switchboard actually used by Roseville Telephone in 1914. True collectors praise the exhibit. Technical buffs and antique enthusiasts appreciate the unique collection. Children learn. People of all ages marvel and enjoy.

Your average technology company doesn't take the time to preserve history, or expend the effort to share it with others. But, we did. It's indicative of how SureWest approaches business - connecting people. Down the street. Around the world. Even through time.