Open in 2100: why future time-capsule dates matter

Time capsules are sealed collections of artifacts, messages, and media set aside for future discovery. They’re appointment letters to people not yet born, stamped with a precise opening date—often decades or centuries ahead. This guide explores the global calendar of scheduled openings, how those dates are picked, famous capsules awaiting their moment, and smart ways to track the countdown to 2100 and other milestone years.

Quick definition

A time capsule is a curated container preserved for a defined period and intended to be opened on a specific date. Opening dates are usually set to commemorate milestones (50, 100, 200 years), protect the contents from premature exposure, or align with symbolic futures such as 2100 or 2114.

Why “Open in 2100” captures the imagination

Years with round-number symmetry invite big promises. “Open in 2100” signals a full turn of the 21st century—far enough to feel futuristic, near enough to plan for. Municipalities, schools, museums, and families have adopted 2100 as a target for millennial retrospectives, Y2K-era capsules, and community snapshots meant for the descendants of today’s residents.

How time-capsule opening dates are chosen

There is an art, a science, and a bit of politics behind a capsule’s reveal year. Planners typically weigh the following:

• Anniversaries and civic milestones: Centennials (100 years) and bicentennials (200 years) are the most common. In the United States, countless 1976 Bicentennial capsules are slated for 2076.
• Symbolic timelines: Round numbers like 2050 or 2100 feel “epochal.” Some capsules embrace ultra-long horizons (e.g., 6939 or 8113) to carry civilization-scale messages.
• Preservation limits: Materials science and storage conditions affect how long analog items (paper, textiles, film) and digital media can survive. Planned openings often land within realistic preservation windows.
• Custodianship and legal continuity: Institutions pick dates they reasonably expect to manage, document, and legally defend. Statutes, bylaws, or trust documents may specify the opening.
• Risk management: Longer timeframes increase risks of water intrusion, construction damage, or institutional turnover. A 50–100-year horizon balances aspiration with survivability.
• Public engagement: A known, reachable date helps fundraise, inspire participation, and schedule ceremonies people can actually attend.

A world tour of notable time capsules and their reveal years

Westinghouse Time Capsules (New York World’s Fair, 1939 and 1965) — Open in 6939

Arguably the most famous pair, these sleek torpedo-like capsules were buried during the 1939 and 1965 New York World’s Fairs and are intended for opening in the year 6939. Contents include microfilmed texts, everyday items, and cultural artifacts, curated to explain 20th-century life to distant descendants. The audacious 5,000-year horizon is a statement of optimism about civilizational continuity.

Crypt of Civilization (Oglethorpe University, sealed 1940) — Open in 8113

Housed in a sealed chamber in Atlanta, the Crypt of Civilization is a pioneering project of time-capsule thinking. It contains microfilm libraries, recordings, household goods, and documentation of 20th-century life. The opening year 8113 was selected to mirror the span of recorded history to that date, projecting a comparable stretch into the future.

Future Library (Oslo, started 2014) — Publish in 2114

Not a traditional buried capsule, the Future Library commissions one new literary work each year from a celebrated author, to be held unread until 2114. A forest planted for the project will supply the paper to print the anthology. It’s a living time capsule of storytelling, aligned precisely with a 100-year publishing horizon.

Tulsarama! Plymouth Belvedere (Tulsa, 1957) — Opened in 2007

Buried beneath the Tulsa County Courthouse lawn, a brand-new 1957 Plymouth Belvedere and a cache of local memorabilia were sealed for 50 years. The 2007 opening drew global attention—along with a sobering preservation lesson: water intrusion had severely damaged the car. The event remains a defining “On This Day” for time-capsule cautionary tales.

Massachusetts State House (Boston, 1795 capsule) — Opened in 2015

Originally buried by Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, the capsule was reopened in 1855 and again in 2015. Contents included coins, newspapers, and a silver plate. It’s a rare example of a capsule with multiple, carefully recorded openings bridging centuries.

Oklahoma Century Chest (1913) — Opened in 2013

Sealed under a church in Oklahoma City, the Century Chest included letters to the future, artifacts from tribal nations, and community documents. Its precisely timed centennial opening provided a richly human window into regional life a century earlier.

The global calendar: openings to watch between now and 2125

While there’s no single public master calendar, patterns make it easy to anticipate active years:

• 2045: A century after the end of World War II, expect openings tied to mid-20th-century memorial capsules and victory commemorations.
• 2050: Many late-20th-century municipal and campus capsules target the 50-year mark.
• 2076: A banner year in the United States. Thousands of Bicentennial (1976) capsules are set to open for the Tricentennial.
• 2100: The millennial turn draws widespread targets—especially time capsules created around the year 2000 with “open in 2100” labels.
• 2114: Oslo’s Future Library will publish its century of manuscripts.

Tip: Local historical societies, museums, universities, and city clerks often maintain records of capsules with public opening dates. National registries and societies can also help you verify and track future unveilings.

Lessons from past openings: what history teaches

• Moisture is the main enemy: Tulsa’s flooded vault shows that even heavy-duty containers need thoughtful site selection, drainage, and ongoing documentation of location and condition.
• Digital storage is fragile: Magnetic media, optical discs, and flash drives degrade—and may be unreadable without period hardware. Printed, analog, and low-tech formats remain the gold standard for ultra-long storage.
• Context matters as much as contents: Inventories, captions, and instructions in clear language make artifacts meaningful to future readers.
• Multiple openings can work—if documented: Boston’s capsule demonstrates that carefully recorded re-openings and re-sealings can extend a capsule’s life and narrative.
• Plan for stewardship transitions: Institutions change. Transfer deeds, legal trusts, and signage help the future find—and respect—what you left behind.

How to track upcoming unveilings with countdowns

Build your personal “Open in 2100” watchlist

• Start local: Check city hall, the county clerk, local libraries, and historical societies for capsule records, resolutions, or plaques noting dates and locations.
• Search institutional archives: Universities, museums, and churches often publish capsule details on anniversary pages or news releases.
• Consult registries: Look for national or international time-capsule societies and registries that accept submissions and offer search tools.
• Verify with multiple sources: Confirm the date, place, and custodian contact details. Note whether the date is statutory (legally set) or ceremonial (subject to change).

Set practical countdowns and reminders

• Create calendar events: In Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook, add an all-day event with the exact opening date and location. Use multiple reminders (e.g., 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, and 1 day before).
• Use time-zone-aware countdowns: Online countdown timers that align with event time zones prevent confusion for international observances.
• Subscribe, don’t copy: If you manage a capsule list, publish a read-only ICS feed so others can subscribe. Edits and postponements propagate automatically.
• Add context in the description: Include a brief history, a link to the custodian, RSVP details, and directions for onsite ceremonies.
• Back up your list: Export an ICS file annually and store it with notes in a shared drive or archival note-taking app.

Make it social and sharable

• Set up alerts: Follow custodial institutions on social media; turn on notifications for announcements in the year leading up to the opening.
• Create community “watch parties”: Coordinate with local clubs, schools, or libraries to host public viewings, talks, or livestreams.

Add upcoming openings to your calendar: a quick guide

• Google Calendar: Create event → Title with year and place (e.g., “Open in 2100: City Hall Capsule”) → Date → All-day → Notifications: email 1 year ahead; app alert 1 week, 1 day, and 1 hour ahead → Add link to custodian page → Save.
• Apple Calendar: New Event → All-day → Alerts at 1 year, 1 week, and on day-of → Add URL and notes → Add to a dedicated “Time Capsules” calendar color-coded for visibility.
• Outlook: New event → All-day → Reminders and Category (e.g., “History/Time Capsules”) → Add location map link → Invite interested friends or coworkers.
• Spreadsheet tracker: Keep columns for Name, City, Country, Opening Date, Time Zone, Custodian, Source Link, Notes. Use a “Days Until” column with a simple formula to track proximity.

Creating your own “Open in 2100” capsule? Best practices

• Container and site: Choose corrosion-resistant materials (stainless steel or titanium), welded or gasketed closures, and a site above water tables with drainage. If indoors, pick a monitored, climate-stable location.
• Materials selection: Favor inert, archival items: cotton rag paper, pigment inks, uncoated metals, and textiles. Avoid foods, batteries, adhesives, and soft plastics that off-gas or liquefy.
• Digital strategy: Provide printed documentation and photos. If including digital media, add instructions, checksums, and a bill of materials; consider including a low-tech reader or schematics.
• Documentation: Inventory everything. Include letters to readers, a timeline, maps of the site, contact information, and opening instructions. Keep a duplicate of key documents with the custodian.
• Legal and custodial clarity: Adopt a resolution or trust naming the custodian, opening date, and transfer procedures. Post clear signage or a plaque at or near the site.
• Registration: File details with a recognized registry or local historical society to reduce the chance of loss during renovations or leadership changes.

Ethics and cultural care

Time capsules often include community memory. Be mindful of privacy, consent, and cultural protocols. Avoid sensitive personal information; ensure Indigenous and local communities are partners in selecting materials and setting terms for future access.

Notable “On This Day” openings

• June 15, 2007 — Tulsa, Oklahoma: The 1957 Tulsarama capsule (with the Plymouth Belvedere) opens after 50 years, revealing water damage and preservation lessons.
• January 6, 2015 — Boston, Massachusetts: The State House capsule originally placed in 1795 is opened, cataloged, and conserved after a careful recovery.
• April 22, 2013 — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: The 1913 Century Chest is opened on the state’s Land Run anniversary, unveiling letters and artifacts from a century earlier.

What to expect at an opening ceremony

• Conservation-first approach: Professional conservators may stabilize fragile items before public display.
• Livestreams and exhibits: Many institutions broadcast the unveiling and mount temporary exhibits with interpretation.
• Community participation: Schools, descendants, and donors are often invited; expect speeches, media coverage, and sometimes the resealing of a new capsule.

The long countdown to 2100

As the century turns, “Open in 2100” events will culminate decades of anticipation. Whether you’re tracking major global capsules like Oslo’s Future Library (2114) or hometown treasures set for 2076 or 2100, a little planning now ensures you’ll catch the moment—and understand the story behind it.

FAQ

What is the most famous time capsule and when will it be opened?

The Westinghouse Time Capsules from the 1939 and 1965 New York World’s Fairs are among the most famous, scheduled to be opened in the year 6939.

Why do so many capsules target 2076 and 2100?

In the U.S., 2076 marks the nation’s Tricentennial, a common opening year for 1976 Bicentennial capsules. The year 2100 is a symbolic century turn, widely used for capsules created around 2000.

How can I find time capsules near me with known opening dates?

Start with your local historical society, library, city clerk, or archives. Check institutional websites (schools, museums, churches) and look for plaques or resolutions that specify dates. Many groups also register capsules with national or international registries.

Are digital files safe to include for a 100-year opening?

They’re risky. File formats and storage media can become obsolete. If you include digital items, also provide printed documentation, a clear inventory, and instructions for future readers.

What went wrong with Tulsa’s 1957 car time capsule?

Water intrusion compromised the buried vault over five decades, damaging the vehicle and contents. The opening underscored the importance of drainage, site selection, and periodic documentation of a capsule’s location and conditions.

Can a time capsule be opened more than once?

Yes, if custody and documentation are handled properly. The Boston State House capsule was opened in 1855 and 2015, with careful conservation and records each time.

How do I add an opening to my calendar and get reminders years in advance?

Create an all-day event in your calendar app with the exact date and location. Add multiple reminders (e.g., one year, one month, one week, and one day beforehand). If you manage several, publish or subscribe to an ICS calendar feed so updates propagate automatically.