Sioux Falls Telephone Pioneer Museum
After closing during the remodeling of the main telephone building in Sioux Falls, all Pioneer equipment was placed in storage, the Telecom Pioneer museum was no more.
Some time in the late 1990’s the museum items were moved back to the telephone building and placed in a store room in the basement where they remained unattended.
The historical committee was re-established in late 2003. A little over 5 years after the Historical Committee was re-established our dream came into being with the re-opening of the Pioneer Museum in the Sioux Falls, SD main building. During those 5 years all equipment items were cleaned, photographed and inventoried, the current total of major hardware items is at 562. Not included in the total are hand tools and many miscellaneous small items.
Along with the hardware items we have thousands of photographs and countless NWB & US West newspapers. Included with these publications is a complete bound set of Northwestern Bell Telephone Company magazines, which is a complete history of NWB. Other books and miscellaneous publications printed or distributed by the Companies are also being preserved.
Members of the Historical Committee are Bob Denny - Committee Chairman, Don Kachelhoffer, and Joe Mattecheck. The Historical Committee want to express our thanks to all who helped us with their contributions of memorabilia to preserve our heritage for future generations.
The museum is not open to the public, but private tours can be arranged by calling the President of SD Chapter 119, Sandra Kreber.
