Whats in Your Time Capsule?

[mikethompson]

I'm doing some renovations in our basement, which will entail framing a new wall in front of an old one. The finished project will have 2 banks of built in shelving with an electric fireplace in between.

I though it might be fun to put a 'time capsule', no larger than a shoebox, inside that wall and behind the shelves. It got me thinking it might be 50, 60, maybe 70 years before someone opens up that wall.

What would you put in a time capsule if you were making one? Pictures of your street? Coins? A bottle of Scotch?

 

[skeeter456]

We found a note when we restored our mantle which was kind of cool. We put the note back and added our own. I would add pics for sure!

 

[FurCoat]

A corn cob and a tin. Leave a note to relax and enjoy.

 

[ADKPiper]

I couldn't resist the temptation to make it a joke.
Leave strict instruction to not open it for years. Then when they gather to open it with great suspense it's a jack in the box with a sign that says "Psych!"

 

[JOHN72]

I would leave a jar of anti-aging cream, a crucifix and some pickled garlic.

 

[scloyd]

no larger than a shoebox

it might be 50, 60, maybe 70 years before someone opens up that wall.

I'd fill it with little trinkets. Perhaps an unopened Hot Wheels car, unopened Funko Pop toy, a newspaper, a small bottle of wine, a note/letter. Fill it with some "fun" items.

Have fun with it.

 

[UB 40]

A daily newspaper.

 

[AJL67]

Bought an old house in Boston 25 yrs ago, we did a ton of work redoing most of the interior, huge fieldstone fireplace, bigger rooms, new windows, when working in the attic we found a old clothe bag with 250 mint condition Morgan silver dollars from 1876, nah just kidding.

 

[ashdigger]

I would leave a skeleton wrapped in plastic. I’d also leave newspaper articles of missing persons from various locations.

My X volunteered to be the skeleton.

This is a joke. If it were serious I’d wrap a hoe in plastic.

 

[bullet08]

Empty bottle of a whisky and a note "I got here first!"

 

[mso489]

I had a writer friend some years ago, a former Marine Corps fighter pilot who had gone somewhat counter-culture after his time in service. He built a house out of salvage lumber and other materials from old houses and farm out buildings. In the walls of the demolitions, he found pack rat nests that had treasures like the buttons off Confederate uniforms, jewelry (nothing precious) from the 19th Century, bits of toys and so on.

For human artifacts, photographs of the local town or downtown are likely to be interesting over time. The front page of a newspaper is good, since paper newspapers are fading fast. A local church cookbook could be of interest, as might a book of local lore by a local author.

A letter describing your time in the house, without giving away any family secrets, might pique interest, about a page worth. Maybe the menu from a local restaurant, to show the deflated prices. A modest ring or woman's bracelet might enhance the treasure aspect of the find.

 

[kcghost]

If you put it in a time capsule and wait fifty years you will need an explanation of what pipe smoking is.

 

[wyfbane]

What a fascinating project. It would take me a while, but I would put together a box of such magnificence that it would forever change the lives of those who found it...

 

[mikethompson]

Lots of really good ideas so far, I especially like some of yours @mso489

Empty bottle of a whisky and a note "I got here first!"

Haha like this one too!

I would leave a skeleton wrapped in plastic. I’d also leave newspaper articles of missing persons from various locations.

My X volunteered to be the skeleton.

This is a joke. If it were serious I’d wrap a hoe in plastic.

I've seen people dress halloween skeletons in construction outfits and hide them in during kitchen renovations lol

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Just make some computer files with stuff on it from this era and download it to a floppy disk. Make them go and find a salvaged disk drive to read it.

 

[mikethompson]

download it to a floppy disk

That would be hard to do now, let alone in decades to come!

Maybe some photos on a USB drive?

 

[OzPiper]

A few years ago there was a line of “birth year” birthday cards featuring CDs with hit songs from that particular year which I thought was a great idea

 

[ThermionicScott]

What a fascinating project. It would take me a while, but I would put together a box of such magnificence that it would forever change the lives of those who found it...

View attachment 214830

Well now I have that song stuck in my head!

 

[Arthur Frayn]

This... Its vitally important that the people of the future see what passes for normal in 2023.

 

[Wet Dottle]

One dollar in bitcoin.