Museum of Radio and Technology facts for kids
The Museum of Radio and Technology is an exciting museum located in Huntington, West Virginia. It's a place where you can discover how electronic communication and entertainment began and changed over the years. Many exhibits are hands-on, meaning you can touch and interact with them! Best of all, admission is completely free. This museum is one of the biggest of its kind in the eastern United States, with over 10,000 square feet of space to explore.
Explore the World of Old Technology
The Museum of Radio and Technology has many cool areas. Each one shows a different part of how technology has grown.
Step Back to the 1920s and 1930s
Imagine a time before electricity was common! This part of the museum shows how music was played mechanically. You'll learn how wireless communication first started. You can even see a working "crystal radio" and a rotary spark gap demonstrator. These were some of the first ways people sent messages without wires.
A 1940s-1950s Tech Store
Step into a typical radio and television store from the 1940s and 1950s. You'll see old tube radios, early television sets, and even wire and tape recorders. There are also vintage turntables for playing records. A special display shows toys from the 1950s by the A.C. Gilbert Company. These include classic Erector sets, chemistry sets, microscopes, and even the Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab!
Computers Through Time
See how computers have changed with a "time line" of desktop computers. It goes from very early models like the IMSAI all the way to the first Macs and Lisas. You'll be amazed to see a 7-megabyte hard drive that's as big as a suitcase! Today, your phone probably has thousands of times more storage.
Ham and Shortwave Radios
Discover the world of "hams" and hobbyists who use shortwave radios. These are special radios for talking to people far away. You'll see different kinds of receivers and transmitters. Some famous brands are Hallicrafters, Hammarlund, Heath, and National.
Military Communication Gear
This area shows various types of radio and communication equipment used by the military. It's interesting to see how soldiers communicated in the past.
Modern Ham Radio Station
If you have a special license, you can even operate the amateur radio station WV8MRT! This is a great chance to try out modern ham radio.
The Radio Classroom
Learn about electronics in the radio classroom. It has special equipment and circuit demonstrators. These help you understand how electronic parts work together.
Harveytown School Days
The museum building used to be an elementary school! Meet the children who attended classes here from the 1920s to the 1970s. It's a fun way to see what school was like long ago.
Be a Radio DJ!
Step into a working broadcast studio, just like disc jockeys used from the 1950s to the 1990s. You can sit at the control console and imagine spinning records and talking on the air!
The Broadcasting Room
See real radio and TV broadcast equipment. This includes a huge 5000-watt AM transmitter from the 1930s. You'll also find old recorders, cameras, control boards, and even the famous "N-B-C" chimes.
West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame
A big part of the Museum of Radio and Technology celebrates the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Many people from West Virginia played a huge role in the early days of radio and TV broadcasting. This area has pictures, a storybook, and a wall with names. It's a great way to learn about the pioneers of broadcasting from West Virginia.
See also
- American Museum of Radio and Electricity
- Museum of Broadcast Communications
- 20th Century Technology Museum
- National Radio Hall of Fame
- Military Wireless Museum in the Midlands
