Does anyone know about time capsules? Is it different for each city,county ? I have heard 50 to a 100 years ?

Question

In Ohio back in the early 60's my mother along with others put items in a time capsule. This took place at the courthouse in cochocton,ohio and my mothe was wanting to find out if it had been opened yet. That is the reason I want to know about the time capsules and when they open them again or when. If anyone knows or has an idea please enlighten me.

Answer 1

A time capsule is a historic cache of goods and/or information, usually intended as a method of communication with people in the future. Time capsules are sometimes created and buried with much hoopla during celebrations such as a World Fair, cornerstone laying for a building or other event. They can also be unintended caches such as at Pompeii. The phrase "time capsule" has been in use since about 1937, but the idea is as old as the earliest human civilizations in Mesopotamia.

They can generally be classified into two types: intentional and unintentional. Intentional time capsules are placed on purpose and are usually intended to be opened at a particular future date, whether it's 10, 100, 1,000 or more years after interment. Unintentional time capsules are usually archaeological in nature. Discoveries of cultural significance are often found in standard archaeological digs as well as those from volcanic eruptions such as Pompeii and Vesuvius.

The concept of time capsules is not recent. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, humanity's earliest literary work, it began with instructions on how to find a box of copper inside a foundation stone in the great walls of Uruk, and in the box was Gilgamesh's tale, written on a lapis tablet. There were other time capsules 5,000 years ago as vaults of artifacts hidden inside the walls of Mesopotamian cities.

In 1937, during preparations for the 1939 New York World's Fair, someone suggested burying a "time bomb" for 5,000 years (until 6939), a more discreet name of "time capsule" was suggested, and the name has stuck since. The 1939 New York World's Fair time capsule was created by Westinghouse as part of their exhibit. It measured 90", weighed 800 pounds, and had an interior diameter of 6.5 inches. Westinghouse named the copper, chromium and silver alloy Cupaloy, claiming it was harder than steel.

The original capsule was followed in 1965 by a second capsule at the same site, but 10 feet to the north of the original. Both capsules are buried 50 feet below Flushing Meadows Park, site of the Fair. The first capsule contained everyday items such as a spool of thread and doll, but also a Book of Record, a vial of staple food crop seeds, and a microscope. Microfilm spools condensed the contents of a Sears Roebuck catalog, dictionary, almanac, and other texts. An RKO Pathe Pictures newsreel, fifteen minutes in length, is also included. Both the 1939 and 1965 capsules are meant to be opened the same year.

More recently, Westinghouse has also created a smaller, Plexiglas shell buried beneath the New York Marriotte Marquis hotel, in the heart of New York's theater district.

The Crypt of Civilization (1936) at Oglethorpe University, scheduled to be opened in 8113, is generally regarded to be the first successful implementation of a modern time capsule.

Currently, two time capsules are "buried" in space. The Voyager Golden Record has been attached to two spacecraft for the benefit of spacefarers in the distant future. A third time capsule, the KEO satellite, will be launched in 2007 or 2008, carrying individual messages from Earth's inhabitants addressed to earthlings around the year 52,000, when KEO will return to Earth.

Answer 2

I would suggest calling the city hall in Cochocton, Ohio, to request information about the time capsule, if it was official. The city would be able to tell you if the capsule has been opened, when it was opened, or when it is scheduled to be opened. It has been my experience that the time span for opening capsules differs depending on city, country, country or person.

Answer 3

When they set a time capsule, the ppl sets a date on it for as long as they want. The majority of them are for 50 years.

Answer 4

YES!! They are usually for 100 years, but there are some places
that have them opened up in 50 years. They are real interesting
when they do open them and you can see how people lived back
then. It's better if they are opened 100 years, because people can see how much more advanced we are now than what we were, say, 100 years ago.

Answer 5

ummmm it depends what year they put it in. I think they would leave it in for 50 or 40 years. Or maybe more