Forgotten time capsule from 1914 unsealed in New York City
In 1914, the Lower Wall Street Business Men's Association put together a time capsule, stuffing into the bronze box newspapers with stories on bullfighting, the spice trade, and baseball, as well as booklets and a facsimile of a pre-Revolutionary War letter urging colonies to unite.
The plan was to have the New York Historical Society open it in 1974 — there was even a telegram from the governor at the time, wishing the New York of 1974 all the best — but the capsule was forgotten about until recently, when a curator found it in a warehouse. On Wednesday, a crowd gathered to watch as historian Nick Yablon donned gloves and started taking out the items. "This is the thrill of recovering relics," he told The Associated Press.
The Lower Wall Street Business Men's Association created the time capsule to celebrate the tricentennial of the 1614 charter of the New Netherland Company. The organization no longer exists, but it did inspire the New York Historical Society's high school interns to create their own time capsule, which won't be unsealed until 2114 (hopefully, this time it will be remembered). Their contributions? Tickets to a Lady Gaga concert, Purell hand sanitizer, an iconic Greek-themed New York coffee cup, and a subway poster announcing service changes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published