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Home / News / What should go in Asheville’s new time capsule?

What should go in Asheville’s new time capsule?

Posted on June 30, 2015January 26, 2022 by Polly McDaniel

What do you want people 100 years from now to know about the Asheville of today?

In March, workers recovered a time capsule from 1897 from the base of the Vance Monument. During restoration, the time capsule was unearthed from its long-time resting place beneath the cornerstone of the Vance Monument. Housed in a copper box, the 1897 time capsule contained silver coins, honor rolls from local schools and local newspapers, including The Colored Enterprise which represented Asheville’s black citizens of the time.

Now a new time capsule project is underway.

The time capsule will be installed under the cornerstone of the Vance Monument at 6:30 p.m. September 18 as part of the final Movies in the Park of the season.

Leading up to its installation, the City invites Asheville-Buncombe residents to participate in the next 100-year time capsule. Called the 2115 Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule Project, the contents will demonstrate to 2115 Asheville what life was like in 2015 Asheville.

Several opportunities for public participation in the time capsule project are available through July 30:

  • Citizen Roll Call: Stop by any branch of the Asheville Buncombe Library, or any City of Asheville recreation center to sign the citizen signature page. All signatures will be placed inside the time capsule.
  • Survey: Take our time capsule survey.
  • Time Capsule Content: Make comments on what should go in the time capsule. Go to the City of Asheville website at ashevillenc.gov under City Projects to make time capsule recommendations.
  • Movies in the Park: Stop by the Time Capsule Booth to sign the Citizen Roll Call and make time capsule recommendations during Movies in the Park, 6:30 p.m., Pack Square Park on July 10.

A citizen Selection Panel will make the final selection of the time capsule contents. Public input on the time capsule content will constitute 50% of the selection process.
“The size of the time capsule is equivalent to a large shoe box and limited in space,” said Parks & Rec Assistant Director Debbie Ivester.

The Selection Panel will consider content on the suitability, size and compatibility of materials to survive for 100 years.

Stay up to date by visiting the City’s Time Capsule Project Page. For information, contact Debbie Ivester at 828-259-5804, divester@ashevillenc.gov.

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