Watch Vintage Phone Switches Connect a Call in Georgetown
Volunteers keep mechanical telephone switches running on Sundays, and visitors can watch calls connect through them.
☎️ What the Frames Still Do
The museum occupies a working central office in Georgetown, where switching machines that once connected Seattle neighborhoods still run. Behind the aisles of equipment, volunteers keep a 1923 panel switch from the Rainier office in service, the only functioning panel switch left in the world. Visitors can watch the crossbar machinery connect calls and, under docent guidance, hear the relays click into place as a call steps through. Tours start on demand, but doors close at 2.30 PM to allow visitors enough time before the 3 PM close. A suggested donation is 10 dollars for adults and 5 dollars for youth aged 12 to 18, open Sundays only. Plan one to two hours to see the vintage hardware in motion.
