Early Television Museum
Early Television Museum
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4.5
24 reviews
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LABDRB
623 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
Super cool adventure today to the Early Television Museum. Dedicated to pre and post WW II TVs. Founded by Steve McVoy who worked in a television repair shop after school. In 1999 he sold his cable television business, was looking for something to do with his time, and decided to collect early television receivers from the 1920’s on. The rest is history. This is a self-guided tour, and they have audio recordings telling you about many things within the museum. Also everything is labeled with lots of interesting information.
Suggested cost of entry is only five dollars per person, and it is considered a “donation only”. They have some cool “merch” for sale too. Parking is free. Plan on spending about one hour at this museum. After visiting this neat place, take a short walk over to the Center Street Market where you can grab a cold beer and some vittles...
Suggested cost of entry is only five dollars per person, and it is considered a “donation only”. They have some cool “merch” for sale too. Parking is free. Plan on spending about one hour at this museum. After visiting this neat place, take a short walk over to the Center Street Market where you can grab a cold beer and some vittles...
Written April 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edward G
New York City, NY225 contributions
Aug 2020
In an unassuming building outside Columbus is an outstanding collection of vintage televisions from the first mechanical televisions, through the advent of color. Gallery after gallery the exhibit spaces grow larger in spaces packed with shelves of televisions and tubes of all imaginable shapes and sizes. Make your way through to the end for the larges gallery that includes television production and transmission equipment, from cameras to a news van and an enormous transmitter.
Written April 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim & Anthony
Washington DC, DC36 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
Disclaimer: seeing the Early Television Museum has been on my bucket list for many years. I finally decided to bite the bullet and drive the 6 hours it takes to get there from Washington, DC. I'm glad I did.
I think that this museum might appeal to people other than just those who enjoy seeing old technology: the friend I dragged along really seemed to enjoy himself, and some local Ohioans who stumbled upon it thought it was worth the visit.
There is a lot to take in: TV's from before WWII, TV's from Europe, the first color TV consumers actually bought, as well as a collection of TV station equipment.
The only drawbacks with visiting are the limited hours (Saturday and Sunday only) and the distance. But I found that Hilliard was an easy drive and the town of Hilliard was very cute and might add an incentive to visit.
I think that this museum might appeal to people other than just those who enjoy seeing old technology: the friend I dragged along really seemed to enjoy himself, and some local Ohioans who stumbled upon it thought it was worth the visit.
There is a lot to take in: TV's from before WWII, TV's from Europe, the first color TV consumers actually bought, as well as a collection of TV station equipment.
The only drawbacks with visiting are the limited hours (Saturday and Sunday only) and the distance. But I found that Hilliard was an easy drive and the town of Hilliard was very cute and might add an incentive to visit.
Written September 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lovetotraveldave
Neenah, WI4 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
This museum is one of those hidden gems that you’ll always remember. It was built by a very dedicated collector who collected and preserved TVs and video equipment before it was scraped. The amount he collected and the ingenuity it represents is truly amazing. Since starting this collection the museum has become a Mecca for TV collectors, hosting a yearly convention. It has also taken on the task of rebuilding picture tubes to keep older sets running! The museum itself is well organized with many operating sets. Just push the button, wait a minute for the set to warm up and you’ll see an old time video. Tours are self guided with each display well labeled. They are many unique aspects to see. I especially enjoyed the extensive mechanical TV set collections both in black and white and color.
Written June 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
laneytb
Hilliard, OH21 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
My son's Cub Scout group went here for a tour. It was very interesting. You don't realize how big the place is and the tour guide was great - very informative.
Written February 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert F B
Reston, VA1,068 contributions
May 2013 • Solo
This is one of those little-known museums that are off the beaten path but are well worth the trip to. And, in the case of the Early Television Museum, definitely a Saturday afternoon visit as you’ll want to come back on Sunday to see what you missed on your first afternoon! The difference between this and many other museums is that many of the exhibits aren’t “stuffed and mounted” cosmetic restorations just sitting in situ. They are in operating condition and are setup so that visitors can turn them on to see what watching TV was like before there were flat panels and hundreds of channels available 24/7. This is probably the world’s finest collection of antique television receivers which is available for regular viewing by the general public. The TV’s are from the U.S., the U.K., and Europe, and represent both commonplace (like the Muntz) to the unusual from the 1950’s, in addition to rare one-of-a-kind experimental receivers and early production antiques. The museum also has a good collection of early color TV receivers including an operating monitor from the short-lived “CBS Field Sequential” system of the early 1950’s. The museum is in Old Hilliard and is adjacent to several good restaurants. Decent motels are also nearby. This is one to slowly enjoy and savor.
Written February 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Norma K
Fresno, CA2 contributions
May 2022
If you are anywhere in the area, I highly recommend a visit to this museum. Give it some time too, because there are several rooms with audio programs about the worldwide history of TVs.
Written June 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tlr1984
Columbus, OH25 contributions
Jul 2021
It doesn't look like it from the outside but this museum is a real hidden gem in Hilliard. If you're interested in history at all, you will love it.
Written December 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ErinMoore
Columbus, OH150 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
Always looking for fun things to see while family is in town. I had first heard about this museum last fall. They ask $5 per adult to get in which was fine. Happy the guy working told us where to start our tour as it wasn't right up front. Several buttons throughout the museum turn on TVs. A few were inoperable during our visit but it seems like they are always trying to get things up and running asap. Enjoyed our visit and plan to tell others about this place!
Written March 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LJ K
Columbus, OH2,350 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
Visited the early television museum with a group of friends in April the museum houses lots of old televisions which are one or two of the kind left in existence this is a great place to view history of television many displays which are working of older television from the beginning of time to the present well worth the experience
Written April 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingEarly Television Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Early Television Museum
- Hotels near Early Television Museum:
- (7.15 mi) The Timbrook Guesthouse
- (7.22 mi) Marriott Columbus OSU
- (2.26 mi) Homewood Suites by Hilton Columbus-Hilliard
- (3.37 mi) Drury Inn & Suites Columbus Dublin
- (9.33 mi) 50 Lincoln-Short North Bed and Breakfast
- Restaurants near Early Television Museum:
- (0.07 mi) Crooked Can Brewing Company
- (0.10 mi) Legacy Smokehouse
- (0.10 mi) Otie's Old Hilliard Inn & Pub an Patio
- (0.11 mi) Coffee Connections
- (0.12 mi) Abner's Casual Dining
Early Television Museum Information
Excellent Reviews | 16 |
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Very Good Reviews | 6 |
Early Television Museum Photos | 39 |