Time Capsule From 1795 Buried By Patriots Paul Revere And Samuel Adams Unearthed


An 18th century time capsule, believed to be buried in 1795 by patriots Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, is in the process of being unearthed in Boston.

The time capsule was left in a cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House, according to CNN. The construction of the building started in 1795, which is when the time capsule was placed. The cornerstone of the building is being removed in order to facilitate repair work to the historic state building. A worker from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is in charge of the painstaking, careful chipping away of building materials that surround the time capsule.

The capsule was actually initially dug up in 1855 because of emergency repairs being made to the building, but was placed back into the cornerstone before it was reset. During that process, workers added some of their own time-period pieces to the cement.

“There were some coins that were tossed in the 1855 ceremony in the mix of the mortar. They are in good condition so we are optimistic that the box itself has withstood the test of time and that it will therefore be holding the contents securely,” said Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin, who also happens to head the state’s historical commission.

Both time-capsule events — the original burial in 1795 and the reburial in 1855 — were chronicled in detail, Galvin says. Because of that, it is known that the capsule contains rare coins, a Paul Revere plate, papers and other artifacts dating back to the 1600s. “What we know the box contains, based on the notes that we have, is a Paul Revere plate, papers, and coins from the 1600s. It may contain other stuff too, we don’t know that yet,” he said.

The entire contents of the capsule will hopefully be revealed sometime next week.

“As soon as the box is freed from the stone, we will show the box, then send it to the MFA, they will X-ray it over the weekend and open it sometime there next week,” he said. “The contents are of concern, but the plaster that held the box in place is in good condition.”

The Secretary of State’s office is looking into whether the box will be reinstated and, if so, whether new items from current times will be added to the capsule before it is reburied.

This isn’t the only time capsule in the State House, either. Read about the forgotten 113-year-old time capsule said to be sealed inside the golden lion statue here.

[Image via www.landofthebrave.info]

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