Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum
The Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum is a memorial dedicated to Frank H. Woods and is one of the most unique attractions amongst all Lincoln Nebraska museums. It covers a wide scope of interests that will surely generate smiles from its guests. The galleries of exhibits found in the Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum
Frank H. Woods Sr. was the founder of the Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph company back in 1903. He also served as the President and Chairman of the Board until 1946, the year that he resigned as President. He kept his post as Chairman though until the time of his death in April of 1952.
Named after the Lincoln Telephone Company founder Frank H. Woods Sr., the Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum went through trying times before being established as one of the premiere Lincoln Nebraska attractions. Incorporated in 1994, the Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum was officially opened two years after on October of 1996. With the hard work and effort of many local Pioneer Volunteers, the Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum became a possibility with the acquisition of a grant by the Independent Telephone Pioneers Association or ITPA as well as support through fundings by Aliant Communications.
The Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum offers many different areas where different items of interest are exhibited. There is the Cordboard Room, where displayed are the many tools and equipment that were used. The cordbord, or operator answering position used drop down transmitters for their earliest versions. The Cordboard Room also displays the evolution of the telephone operator headsets. Visitors can view the older Gilliland harnesses that were around 10.5 pounds to the smaller, more manageable ones that were developed after WWII. There is also an exhibit on Strowger Telephone Sets within the confines of the Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum. Considered as a great technological advancement during its time, these Strowger telephone sets were used by Frank H. Woods’ company to compete against the Bell Telephone systems that used to operate with manual calling through their operators. This Lincoln Nebraska museum also features exhibits on candlestick phones, desk vanity phones, and coin telephones. These contraptions represent the history and the evolution of telecommunications in Lincoln Nebraska as well as the entire USA.
Of course, the exhibit won’t be complete without showing the office of Frank H. Woods. The office exhibit was created to reproduce the actual office of Frank H. Woods. Displayed are many different items that one could have easily found during the time that Frank H. Woods was still running the company.
The Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum is located at 2047 Main Street in Lincoln Nebraska. The museum is open even during Sundays at 1 PM to 4 PM. The museum does accept donations although generally admission is free.