A Night of Telecommunications History: Telecommunications Collection

How did communication work before mobile phones, the internet, and digital networks? Visitors can find the answers at TUM’s Telecommunications Collection during Munich’s Long Night of Museums. This unique collection shows the technological evolution of communication, from early telephone switchboards and teleprinters to digital switching systems. Many of the historic installations have not only been preserved but also remain fully operational and interconnected. As a result, visitors can do more than simply observe technological history; they can experience it firsthand. 

From Telephone Switchboards to the Digital Age

Guests can follow historical telephone calls routed through manually operated switchboards by the legendary “telephone operator,” watch 1930s-era teleprinters in action, and explore the technologies that enabled communication long before smartphones and the internet. The Telecommunications Collection was built over several decades at the Chair of Communication Networks under the direction of Professor Wolfgang Kellerer and has been restored and expanded through extensive volunteer commitment. As the collection is normally not open to the public, the Long Night of Museums is one of the few opportunities to experience this extraordinary journey through the history of communication technology. 

The first Long Night of Museums in Munich took place in 1999. What makes the event special is that it brings together not only the city’s major museums but also numerous smaller exhibitions, which remain open until after midnight. Churches and other cultural venues also participate through dedicated programs. Shuttle buses operate on five routes, connecting visitors with the many participating locations across the city.