Entombed within the cornerstone of the Liberty Memorial Tower, remnants of early 20th century Kansas City were brought into the light Tuesday, Oct. 16.
From 1924 to 2024
A 100-year-old time capsule was revealed for the first time in front of an audience of local students, while the rest of us were glued to the livestream. Inside the copper box, materials included:
- Letters from President Coolidge, Admiral Beatty, and MO native General Pershing
- A glass tube filled with “food producing” seeds
- Official records, including a list of dead soldiers from the area
- Copies of daily newspapers from Nov. 9, 1924
- A film reel depicting returning World War I troops
That last item is what got KCPD’s bomb squad involved in the capsule’s removal. While the museum had a list of what to expect in the box, it wasn’t sure what condition the items would be in — a concern when handling potentially reactive (read: explosive) nitrate film.
For the years to come
Now, here’s where we all come in. The National WWI Museum and Memorial plans to create a new time capsule for future generations, though the 2026 one won’t sit in the same spot... something about baking in a stone oven for 100 years.
Our readers have already offered a few unofficial suggestions:
“Confetti from the Super Bowl parade.” — Charlie B.
“Menu from the No.1 Barbecue restaurant, [...] program from the Kauffman Center of the Preforming Arts, rendering of the Nelson-Atkins addition” — Chris V.
“Put in Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce pictures and memorabilia!!😄" — David W.
“Picture of Kauffman Stadium” — Margie P.
Know what you’d want future generations of Kansas Citians to see? Share your ideas, including how long you think it should be sealed, on the museum + memorial’s website.
