Telecommunications in Colorado
1929–1950
Imagine being able to dial a phone number yourself for the first time.
In 1929 no one in Colorado could. By 1984 everyone could.
In 1929 no one in Colorado could. By 1984 everyone could.
Phones change for easier calling
As automated switching machines replaced live operators for connecting phone calls, phones had to change so you could let the new switches know what number you wanted to call. At first this was done using dial telephones that were later replaced by more streamlined touchtone phones.
As automated switching machines replaced live operators for connecting phone calls, phones had to change so you could let the new switches know what number you wanted to call. At first this was done using dial telephones that were later replaced by more streamlined touchtone phones.
Telephone companies created a vast network of wires to connect people throughout Colorado.
No longer a luxury
From the introduction of the first mechanical switch in Colorado in 1929 to the dismantling of AT&T in 1984, telephone policy was to place a phone in every home. Telephones, first an expensive luxury that only the most affluent could afford, became a necessity that every household felt was critical to daily living.
* Cost in 2011 dollars
From the introduction of the first mechanical switch in Colorado in 1929 to the dismantling of AT&T in 1984, telephone policy was to place a phone in every home. Telephones, first an expensive luxury that only the most affluent could afford, became a necessity that every household felt was critical to daily living.
| 1929 | Comparison | 1984 |
|---|---|---|
| 40.9% |
Proportion of houses with phones |
93.5% |
| $67.18 | Monthly local service rate* | $26.49 |
| $76.77 | Toll call to New York | $10.17 |
* Cost in 2011 dollars
To make a phone call before mechanical switching equipment, you would ring your local operator to complete your call. You would say "I want to talk to ..." and the operator would manually connect you to that person by plugging a telephone cord into a switchboard.
Online Exhibits
Telecommunications in Colorado
Allen Tupper True Mural, The Wings of Thought (THG file photo)
Throughout history, human beings have had an innate desire to communicate. This exhibit features a timeline from face-to-face communications of the mid-19th century to today’s instant, global communications, and invites the viewer to imagine what it must have been like to wait weeks or months for news from back home.
Using Allen True’s Wings of Thought mural as a motif, the exhibit highlights documents, directories, and photographs from Telecommunications History Group archives. This online exhibit is based on a 2011 THG exhibit at the Denver Public Library.
Note: Because the exhibit is based on a physical original, it doesn't currently work on a mobile phone in portrait mode (and will look very small in landscape as well). Please view on a tablet or larger device. We're working to get a version of this exhibit to be mobile-friendly.