Doc Porter Museum of Telephone History

I began my journey to Houston museums on Tuesday, May 24 at the Doc Porter Museum of Telephone History. I started here for two reasons: the museum is only open for three hours each Tuesday, and I thought this museum might be a bit of a yawn. I was definitely mistaken on the second point, and I wished I had budgeted more than my lunch hour for the visit.

The museum primarily covered telephones in three areas: telephones and equipment used by customers, indoor items (such as switchboards and telephone books) used by employees, and field equipment (including wires and telephone poles), also used by employees. My tour guide led me through the museum's collection of extensive and fascinating equipment, including early magneto phones and vanity phones, which were only available to the most wealthy around the turn of the twentieth century.

Early Magneto Phones

Folding vanity phone table c. 1892

Several interesting items dealt with activities related to the disabled. There was a telephone switchboard manned by blind operators and a display of Houston's nationally-ranked beep baseball team (played by blind athletes), the San Jacinto Pioneers. Many museum volunteers also help with the recording for the blind program.

Display items for the Beep Baseball team, the San Jacinto Pioneers

While signing the guest register, I noticed I was the first visitor that day (and no one came in after me). Flipping to the week before, the telephone museum only had three visitors. The small number of visitors is really a shame, because this museum has a great collection of interesting items (these few photos do not do the museum justice, but you can see more items as part of an online tour on the museum's web page) . There would be lots to interest kids, especially seeing the field equipment up close. For visitors who can't make it on Tuesdays, they museum does offer the option to have a scheduled tour at other times. If you haven't heard about this Houston museum, you should check it out.

Discovering Houston Museums

I love Houston's cultural institutions and am a frequent visitor of the city's museums. But, like someone who continually lunches at his favorite restaurant rather than trying out new cuisines, I find myself visiting the same museums (The Menil Collection, The MFAH, and Bayou Bend), with only an occasional visit to other large museums. As a summer project, I have decided to venture out and sample the museums in Houston that I have been missing out on. With this blog I hope to chronicle my adventures.

The title of this blog was inspired by my coworker (don't sue me for stealing your idea, Jenn), but it also pays respects to the film and website, Hot Town, Cool City, which highlights Houston's hidden gems. This movie is definitely worth checking out and is required viewing if you are a Houstonian.