Museum opens 100-Year-Old Time Capsule

October 24, 2024

Share to Google Classroom

The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, opened a time capsule that had been sealed for 100 years.

It was originally placed inside the Liberty Memorial Tower in 1924 to mark the tower’s dedication, with instructions for it to be opened a century later.

During the summer, the museum carefully removed the capsule, which was buried under 18 inches of limestone and concrete. The process was tricky because the box also contained nitrate film, a material that can be highly flammable.

During a special ceremony on Wednesday, the museum revealed the capsule’s contents. Inside were historical items like newspapers, a Bible, a copy of the U.S. Constitution, and the U.S. declaration of war from April 1917. Letters were also found, including one from President Calvin Coolidge and others from Allied commanders who attended the memorial’s 1921 groundbreaking.

Among the other treasures was a printing plate from the Kansas City Star newspaper dated November 1, 1921. The copper box was engraved with signatures, likely from the people who originally assembled the time capsule, though their identities remain unknown.

This 100-year-old glimpse into the past shows a connection to history and the efforts of those who built the Liberty Memorial.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research and writing.

Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

Learning Options

Recall Questions

Thinking questions

Digital Thinking

At the edge of a native forest near Rotorua, a group of Year 8 students checked bird counts over three mornings. They heard more tūī and fantail calls after a section of weeds was removed and young trees were planted. The students also noticed fewer introduced birds near the track. Their teacher said the change could be linked to better food sources and safer nesting places. The group did not claim the forest was fully restored, but they agreed the planting work seemed to be helping the habitat recover.

Which summary best captures the main idea of the passage?

The forest was fully restored because the students planted young trees near the track. The teacher explained that introduced birds were the main reason the forest needed work. The students counted birds for three mornings and heard more tūī than fantail calls. Removing weeds and planting native trees seemed to improve the forest habitat and support native birds.