SMP Centennial: Time Capsule

Mark Szeremet, Park Planner/Land Acquisition Specialist

The Centennial time capsule, to be opened on December 31, 2071, was installed in a wall of Summit Lake Nature Center.

What is a time capsule? A time capsule is a vessel filled with items designed to be opened on a specific date in the future. The idea is to provide a later generation with a physical link to the past. Ancient tombs, sunken ships and even old landfills provide us with a glimpse of life in former times, but they are not time capsules because they were not placed with the specific intention of future retrieval.

Almost from the moment humans began to build, they tossed keepsakes into a building’s foundation. Small clay figures have been found in Stone Age brick walls built before written language was developed to explain why they were put there. Cornerstones of buildings are still filled with notes, coins and various items, although the motivation is more for luck than to send a message to the future. And recently in Richmond, Virginia, two different time capsules were found during the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue.

Guests at the birthday celebration enjoyed live music, ice carving and the opportunity to share messages or memories for the time capsule.

What is our message for the future? The park district celebrated 100 years with a public birthday celebration on December 31, 2021 at Cascade Valley’s Himelright Lodge. Attendees enjoyed listening to music, watching ice carving, viewing the time capsule display, and getting outside to explore the newest park area. Visitors submitted birthday messages and memories to include in the time capsule. Some of the notes included the following:

• “Happy Birthday. May the next 100 years be even better than the last…”
• “Best Wishes from 2021. I hope the parks are still as nice in your time.”
• “Ben asked me to marry him on the ‘bird bridge’ at Firestone — (heart illustration)”
• “The Parks have brought my family so much fun. Thanks for being here …”

A waterproof protector case contains a collection of curated centennial items.

Memories and keepsakes from 2021 will live on for 50 years. Park staff recently installed the Centennial time capsule at Summit Lake Nature Center. The time capsule features items from the park district and community. Some of the items in the capsule include:

• Stories shared by community members during the centennial year
• Ranger badges and patches
• Letters and photos to future employees
• Endangered plant seeds (in the hopes that they can be brought back)
• Plans for future park areas
• Centennial merchandise and giveaways
• Pandemic signs and safety equipment
• Newspaper articles

A plaque on the wall of the nature center will remind visitors that the time capsule waits inside, scheduled to be opened in 2071. Only 49 more years to go!

For more stories like this, check out Green Islands Magazine, a bi-monthly publication from Summit Metro Parks. Summit County residents can sign up to receive the publication at home free of charge.