A 100-year old time capsule was recently opened in Kansas City, revealing various historical items from the past. The time capsule was found in the cornerstone of a WWI memorial and contained a letter from President Calvin Coolidge among other contents. Due to concerns about ill-preserved nitrate film causing a fire, a bomb squad was called to open the case. It took museum excavators a significant amount of effort to drill through 18-inches of concrete in order to access the capsule, which was embedded in the base of a 217-foot tall tower dedicated to soldiers of WWI at the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri.
Among the items found in the time capsule were the 1917 Declaration of War, crop seeds, a copper plate engraving of a front cover of the Kansas City Star newspaper, a letter from Allied general John Pershing, and a film showing the groundbreaking of the memorial in 1921. Other artifacts included the Constitution, a Bible, and various photographs, according to reports. A news article from a copper front page dated 1924 referenced a statistic that showed Kansas City was producing 120,000 kilowatts of power each day, a significantly smaller amount compared to what is produced today.
The unveiling of the time capsule provided insights into the changes and progress that have occurred in Kansas City over the past 100 years. The Liberty Memorial Museum has announced plans to create its own centennial time capsule to be buried in 2026. Museum curator Christopher Warren suggested including sports memorabilia, entertainment artifacts, faith-based items, and those related to the economy and progress in the new time capsule. Suggestions from the people of Kansas City will help inform the final contents of the new capsule. Students who were present at the unveiling expressed interest in including a computer in the new time capsule to showcase technological advancements over the next 100 years.
The artifacts from the recently opened time capsule are currently on display at the Liberty Memorial for public viewing. The items provide a unique historical perspective for visitors to learn about the past and see how much the city has evolved over the years. The unveiling of the time capsule and the contents inside serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving history and tradition for future generations. The process of opening the time capsule and examining its contents also highlighted the efforts and challenges involved in unveiling such significant historical artifacts. The Liberty Memorial Museum continues to promote the value of preserving historical items and will continue to engage with the community to ensure the new time capsule reflects the values and progress of Kansas City in the present day.
