11 Sealed Time Capsules Awaiting Their Future Unveiling

The excitement of burying time capsules lies in the mystery of how future generations will perceive the treasures we’ve left behind. While some unearthing events have been less than spectacular, the sealed capsules allow us to dream of a future where their contents are revealed in a world that appreciates them. Here’s a look at 11 time capsules destined to be opened decades, centuries, or even millennia from now.

1. The Nickelodeon Time Capsule

Among the countless time capsules worldwide, the Nickelodeon capsule stands out for being curated by kids. In 1992, Nickelodeon collaborated with the Kids World Council to select items that captured the essence of the 1990s, such as a Nintendo Game Boy, a container of Gak, a skateboard, and a VHS tape of Home Alone (1991). Originally buried at Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, Florida, the capsule has been relocated twice—first to the Nickelodeon Suites Resort in Orlando and later to the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California. It is scheduled to be opened on April 30, 2042, marking 50 years since its burial.

2. The Victorian Time Capsules Beneath Cleopatra's Needle

Originally constructed in Ancient Egypt around 1450 B.C.E., Cleopatra’s Needle holds the distinction of being the oldest human-made artifact in New York City’s Central Park. The Khedive of Egypt, who served as a viceroy under the Sultan of Turkey from 1879 to 1914, gifted the 69-foot granite obelisk to the United States in 1881 to celebrate the completion of the Suez Canal. While countless visitors have admired the monument, many remain unaware of the historical treasures buried beneath it. Before the obelisk was erected in New York, a time capsule was placed at its base, containing items such as the 1870 U.S. census, a Bible, a dictionary, the complete works of William Shakespeare, an Egyptian guidebook, and a replica of the Declaration of Independence. A second capsule, placed by William Henry Hurlbert, editor of The New York World, remains shrouded in mystery. According to the Central Park Conservancy, there are no plans to excavate these capsules, ensuring they will stay hidden as long as the obelisk stands.

3. The National Millennium Time Capsule

The dawn of the second millennium in the United States was marked by innovation and hope, as well as the popularity of processed snacks and button cell phones. In 1999, the White House curated the National Millennium Time Capsule, filling it with items meant to symbolize America at that historical moment. Among the artifacts were recordings from the Metropolitan Opera, a transoceanic cable, a mobile phone, Ray Charles's sunglasses, and a piece of the Berlin Wall. A Twinkie was initially included but removed due to concerns about attracting pests. The capsule is now stored by the National Archives and Records Administration, with its opening scheduled for the year 2100.

4. The World’s Largest Time Capsule

Unlike many time capsules, this one in Seward, Nebraska, will be opened soon. Created by local businessman Harold Keith Davisson for a Fourth of July celebration in 1975, it is set to be unveiled exactly 50 years later on July 4, 2025. Davisson chose a 45-ton vault buried in his furniture store’s front yard as the container. Recognized by Guinness World Records in 1977 as the world’s largest time capsule, it holds personal items like bikini bottoms, an aquamarine leisure suit, and a brand-new Chevy Vega. Davisson passed away in 1999, but his legacy will live on when the capsule is opened. Visitors can already see the concrete pyramid that marks its location.

5. The Star Wars Capsule at Skywalker Ranch

The creation of Skywalker Ranch in California signaled a new chapter for George Lucas’s production company, Lucasfilm. To commemorate this milestone, Lucas buried a time capsule during the company’s annual Fourth of July Picnic in 1981. The capsule contains early Star Wars memorabilia, including six Kenner Star Wars action figures, two Ballantine Books Star Wars paperbacks, and a 17-minute Super 8 reel from The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Many of these items are now considered collectibles, and their value is expected to grow if the capsule is ever opened. Lucas has expressed his hope that the capsule will remain sealed for a thousand years.

6. MIT’s High-Tech Time Capsule

In 1957, MIT president James R. Killian and professor Harold Edgerton buried a time capsule to celebrate the opening of a new laboratory. The capsule, marked with instructions to remain sealed until 2957, was designed to preserve its contents—books, coins, and MIT memorabilia—for a millennium. To ensure longevity, the capsule was filled with argon gas and a trace amount of carbon-14 for future carbon dating. Although it was briefly excavated during construction, MIT chose to respect the original intent and resealed it for its intended 1,000-year journey.

7. Disneyland’s 40th Anniversary Time Capsule

Disneyland in Anaheim, California, is filled with hidden treasures for observant visitors. One such gem is a plaque near Sleeping Beauty’s castle, marking the spot where a time capsule was buried to celebrate the park’s 40th anniversary. The capsule contains items chosen by Disney cast members and Imagineers, such as an Indiana Jones time decoder, a copy of the Disneyland Line newspaper, and Disney currency. It is scheduled to be opened on July 17, 2035, for Disneyland’s 80th anniversary.

8. The 500,000-Year Time Capsule in Norway

Buried 13 feet deep in the Arctic fjord of Hornsund, Norway, this time capsule is designed to remain sealed for an astonishing 500,000 years. Created in 2017 by Marek Lewandowski, a permafrost specialist from the Polish Academy of Sciences, the capsule aims to provide future archaeologists with insights into our era. It contains human and rat DNA samples, a cell phone, a meteorite fragment, and 300 live tardigrades, offering a snapshot of life and technology in the 21st century.

9. Time Capsule Inside the World’s Largest Axe

This time capsule in Nackawic, New Brunswick, Canada, is impossible to miss. The town, recognized as Canada’s forestry capital, boasts the world’s largest axe, a 23-foot-long steel structure. Hidden within the axehead is a time capsule placed there during its construction in 1991. With no plans to take down this iconic landmark, the capsule will remain a fascinating mystery for future generations to discover.

10. The Millennium Vault

As the U.S. prepared its millennium time capsule, Britain was crafting its own. The Millennium Vault, located on the grounds of Guildford Castle in Surrey, England, holds the title of the largest time capsule in the country. Created by the Guildford Borough Council, it aims to encapsulate the essence of the 20th century for those who will open it in the year 3000. Among its treasures are a Sony Walkman, a violin once played by Yehudi Menuhin, and a specially preserved Mini Cooper.

11. South Korea’s K-Pop Time Capsule

A time capsule displayed at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Seoul was curated by the K-pop group BTS. To commemorate South Korea’s first Youth Day on September 19, 2019, the band selected items reflecting their “musical achievements, memories, love, and gratitude toward our fans,” as RM stated during the ceremony. The purple capsule is set to be opened in 2039, marking the 20th anniversary of Youth Day.