Entry No. 25 — the Columbus file — filed under: technology
Early Television Museum
The only museum of its kind in the United States, showcasing the evolution of television technology with over 150 rare, working sets from the 1920s mechanical era to 1950s early color models.
The story
Before flat screens and high-definition streams, television was a weirdly mechanical fever dream of spinning perforated discs, neon lamps, and high-voltage vacuum tubes. Tucked right at the beginning of the Heritage Rail Trail on Franklin Street in Hilliard, the Early Television Museum stands as the only venue in the United States strictly dedicated to keeping these fragile, glowing relics of early broadcast history alive.
Don't expect dead furniture or empty mahogany cabinets. The museum holds over 150 rare, fully operational receiver sets ranging from the crude 1920s mechanical scanning era up to early 1950s color models. You get to watch the actual physics of early screen tech in action—seeing how mid-century engineers coaxed moving images out of vacuum-sealed glass and low-line rasters long before modern signal standards were ever standardized.
The crown jewel of the collection is a functional 1931 mechanical TV camera setup. Standing in front of it renders your face into a faint, flickering 60-line scan image on a period monitor—a eerie, real-time look at how human faces were digitized almost a century ago. Combined with a vintage video game display, it's an uncompromising vault of early electron-gun technology.
What it's like
Head to 5396 Franklin Street and prepare for a quiet, high-voltage trip back in time. The room carries the ambient hum and glow of active vacuum tubes. Walk straight to the 1931 mechanical camera exhibit to see yourself transformed into a ghostly low-res raster scan, then head over to test out the retro video game setups. Just make sure to double-check their operating schedule before driving out, as operating hours can vary.
The move: Stand in front of a working 1931 mechanical television camera to see yourselves rendered as a fuzzy, 60-line scan image, then try your hand at the newly added vintage video game display.
- 📍 Hilliard
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 5396 Franklin St, Hilliard, OH 43026
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Witch's Parlor — Located less than half a mile away in downtown Hilliard, you can swap vacuum tube glow for hand-crafted teas and metaphysical supplies.
- Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum — Extend your dive into early American pop culture by checking out the world's largest archive of original comic strips and cartoons at OSU.
- The Doll Museum at the Old Rectory — Pair one hyper-focused mid-century technological collection with another dedicated to 19th and 20th-century historical doll preservation in Worthington.
Good to know
Where is the Early Television Museum located?
It is located at 5396 Franklin Street in Hilliard, Ohio, situated right at the start of the Heritage Rail Trail.
Are the televisions on display actually working?
Yes, the collection features over 150 rare, working sets that range from 1920s mechanical models to 1950s early color televisions.
Can you try out any interactive equipment?
You can stand in front of a functional 1931 mechanical camera to view a real-time 60-line scan of yourself, and play with the vintage video game display.
What eras of television technology are covered?
The museum focuses on the evolution of TV technology from the 1920s mechanical television era through early 1950s color developments.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · destinationhilliard.com · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-07-21