Connected Earth facts for kids
Connected Earth was a special group in the UK. It brought together museums and other places. Their main goal was to save and share the history of telecommunications in the UK. Telecommunications means how we send messages over long distances. Think of phones, internet, and radio!
This group helped keep old phones, cables, and other cool items safe. They also made sure people could learn about them. You could see these items in museums. Or you could find them online through their website. The website had virtual galleries and learning tools.
How it Started
Connected Earth began in 2001. It was created by a big company called British Telecom (BT). BT wanted to make sure the UK's amazing history of communication was not lost. They believed it was important for everyone to learn about it.
By working with museums, Connected Earth made sure this history was easy to find. It also helped protect these important items for future generations. This means for kids like you and your kids!
Who Were the Partners?
Many different places joined Connected Earth. These were mostly museums and special centers. Each partner focused on a different part of communication history.
Some of the partners included:
- Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre
- Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings
- Bawdsey Radar
- BT Archives
- Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station
- Milton Keynes Museum
- Museum of London
- Museum of Science and Industry Manchester (MoSI)
- Porthcurno Telegraph Museum
- National Museums of Scotland
- The Science Museum
- The University of Salford
- The Institute of Engineering and Technology
- The Institute of Telecommunications Professionals
Some of these partners, like Amberley and the Science Museum, had special Connected Earth exhibits. Other partners added Connected Earth items to their regular displays.
What Did They Collect?
The Connected Earth partners worked together to tell the story of communication. They collected items from the UK and from how the UK connected with other countries.
They saved many different types of objects, such as:
- A Hughes printing telegraph (an early machine for sending messages)
- An electrophone table (a device for listening to live performances over the phone)
- A tuning coil from Rugby Radio Station (part of a huge radio transmitter)
- Classic telephone kiosks (the famous red phone booths!)
- Parts of the first transatlantic telegraph cable (which connected Europe and North America)
Partners also kept collecting new communication items. This helps make sure the story of communication continues to be saved.
Through a project called "People's Connected Earth," they also gathered stories. They collected memories from the public. They also talked to people who worked in the communication industry. This helped save personal histories alongside the objects.
See also
- BT Museum
