Dakota Datebook: Time Capsule 1976

From the cave drawings of the Sahara to the tombs of the pharaohs, humankind has sought to communicate through the ages. However, never has there been a more deliberate attempt to speak to future generations than the time capsule.

In 1939, the World’s Fair in New York City interned a time capsule which included a baseball, a Sears Roebuck Catalog, an electric lamp, a deck of cards, cigarettes, and the Bible.

On September 7 in 1976, a time capsule was accepted by Governor Link on behalf of North Dakota from the Reynolds Metal Company of Chicago. In honor of the 200th anniversary of the United States a state-of-the-art aluminum time capsule was given to each of the 50 states. They are slated to be opened on July 4, 2075.

“Dakota Datebook” is a radio series from Prairie Public in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and with funding from the North Dakota Humanities Council. See all the Dakota Datebooks at prairiepublic.org, subscribe to the “Dakota Datebook” podcast, or buy the Dakota Datebook book at shopprairiepublic.org.“