A time capsule recently discovered in nearby Atlantic City, NJ got me thinking about the burial and discovery of these little gems. What makes time capsules so amazing, you ask?
1. Typically, "normal" people bury time capsules and dream about their future discovery. These capsules are not left behind by movie stars or CEO's. Instead, John and Jane Smith in Nowhereville prepare and hide items they believe might be interesting or useful in the future.
2. To imagine who buried the time capsule is amazing. What were the people like? What did they do? Who did they envision finding and opening their time capsule?
3. A time capsule is a study in what makes the history of objects (rather than art) so fascinating and important. Time capsules not only come from very ordinary people; they show us what ordinary people found worth sharing. We can investigate why each object was chosen and what it means.
Thanks, as always, to Matt for passing this article along. Here are a few more to whet your appetite:
North Platte, NB Time Capsule
YouTube Time Capsule
Pierre, SD Time Capsule
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