How Does a Time Capsule Work?

A Voice to the Future

Preparing a time capsule is an ideal way for individuals, families or organizations to leave a poignant message for future generations. The containers used for time capsules range from specially built vaults to simple plastic containers with a lid. The contents of a time capsule also can vary broadly from photographs and personal mementos to books or other belongings.

History of Time Capsules

Making time capsules is relatively recent idea. One of the first modern time capsules was created for the 1939 World's Fair in New York. Thread, a doll, seeds, a microscope, a newsreel and microfilm spools of a Sears Roebuck catalog and other texts were placed in a 90-foot-long metal container that weighed 800 lbs. The World's Fair time capsule is supposed to remain sealed until the year 6939.

What to Include in a Family Time Capsule

A time capsule should be thought of as a treasure box that preserves the past for the future. There are almost endless choices about what to include in a time capsule. One option is to let individual family members choose an item of their own to be placed in the time capsule. Whether the time capsule is buried or simply stored away, don't forget about one important detail: leave instructions for younger relatives explaining where the capsule is located and when it is to be opened.

Resources

• International Time Capsule Society