Time Capsules
Have you been thinking about starting a time capsule?
Time capsules are a collection of items that are gathered together and stored away for future generations to discover.
It is meant to be a snapshot of life at the time it was sealed, to be opened at a future date.
Common items included in a time capsule are photographs, newspaper articles, letters, and other artifacts that give an overview of the time it was sealed.
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Where can you place a time capsule?
Time capsules can be used in a variety of places. They can be buried in the ground, placed in a wall, or sealed in a safe or vault.
They can also be kept in a special location, such as a museum or library, where they can be accessed by future generations.
Ancestry.com is also a good place to store time capsules.
Now in the digital era, I’m also using my ancestry online account to place time capsules in the gallery section in profiles of the generations below me so when or if they open an ancestry.com account there will find the time capsules I left them.
A time capsule can be something as simple as writing your name in concrete on a sidewalk
(John & Ella 69 Yrs 2006)
What types of items should be placed in a time capsule
When burying a time capsule, it is important to choose items that can withstand the elements. Items such as metal coins and jewelry.
Documents, photographs, and small artifacts are good choices for time capsules. It is also important to place the items in a water-resistant container, such as a jar or plastic bag, to ensure that the items are not damaged over time.
15 Ideas
1. letter to future generations about the current state of the world
2. newspaper article from today
3. map of the world
4. sample of the world’s most popular music
6. photograph of the most popular fashion trend of the time
6. list of the world’s most popular books
7. recipes of the world’s most popular foods
8. a list of the world’s most endangered species
9. a copy of the most recent version of the World Wide Web
10. a sample of the world’s most popular video games
A photo and the story of a first purchased home
Newspaper or currency of the time
A page from a yearbook
A handwritten note
Message in a bottle with a date to be opened
Printed photos for a time capsule are important
Including printed photos for a time capsule is important because digital images are vulnerable to corruption, technology obsolescence, and file format changes.
When photos are printed, they are much more likely to remain intact over time.
Additionally, printed photos can be appreciated by future generations regardless of what kind of technology may exist at the time the time capsule is opened.
Souvenirs also make great items for a time capsule
Items that can be used as souvenirs in a time capsule include postcards, coins, tickets, programs, magazines, keychains, t-shirts, hats, mugs.
When I hear the words time capsule old abandoned homes that haven’t been touched or the movie Blast from the past with Brendan Fraser always come to mind.
Some people will revert their homes back to look like a time capsule to remind them of a bygone era.
Yes, I have a few time capsules. We left a note in a wall that was partially covered in our 1940s home and I have an old train case with small items I've found, such as marbles and toys, a dog license from 1984, and a scrapbook to show all the progress of our remodel that will stay with the house.
A time capsule is something you can leave behind that says hey I was here and this is what I did. It’s a way to leave your mark and also to help share what life was like during your time.
