Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Many Years From Now. . . . {#TuesdayTen}

Did you hear the news story about the time capsule they found in the Massachusetts State House in Boston? Apparently, the box was placed in the cornerstone of the building by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams in 1795. The box was discovered (actually rediscovered) in December 2014 while workers were repairing a water leak. A few weeks later, after x-rays and other preliminary tests, officials opened the box to see what was inside. They found five folded newspapers, a page from some Massachusetts colony records, coins, and a silver plate that was probably made and engraved by Paul Revere who was a metalsmith. (Information gathered from CNN.com)

I am a bit of a history buff and I found this story very intriguing. It is astounding that these men had the foresight and concern for the future to create such a collection and place it in, what was at the time a prominent place, in hopes that their descendants would find it some 220 years later. If someone had asked those men what they thought life would look like in 2015, I wonder how they would have answered? Surely, they could not have even imagined things like cars, computers, and measles vaccinations just as I cannot fathom what life will be like in the year 2235, another 220 years from now, but what would I want my great, great, great, great grandchildren to know about life in 2015? What would I put in a time capsule for them?
  1. A Letter to my descendants - The letter would explain who I am and would tell them about the other things in the box.
  2. Pictures - I love looking at old black and white photos from my family and I would definitely include photos in my time capsule. The only problem would be choosing! 
  3. A hard copy of my blog (and probably a thumb drive with it) - Not because I'm conceited (though this blog may be the only "claim to fame" I have!), but because I think by reading it, future generations could get a good sense of what life was like in 2011-2015. There are posts here that include music, information about technology, and just life in general.
  4. Newspapers - Just like Paul and Samuel, I would include some news so my grandchildren would know what was important in the world when the time capsule was compiled.
  5. The Family Christmas Book - David and I got this book as a wedding gift when we were married in December 1998. I didn't realize the significance of it then, but I have filled it out every year of our life together and it is always fun to read back over the events of each year and see the pictures on our Christmas cards. 
  6. Music - Just like the photos, the hard part would be choosing, but I would have to include a few CD's or, better yet, and iPod full of songs.
  7. Speaking if iPods, I would have to include some technology. I'm sure, in 1795, the kind of technology we have today was not even an inkling for Paul and Samuel. In another, 220 years, my great, great, great, great grandchildren would probably have a good chuckle at a rudimentary iPhone! 
  8. Money - When I started thinking about this, I really never thought about putting in money. However, when I asked my husband, it was one of the first things he thought of and, obviously, the pioneers thought it was important. I guess I would put in some coins and a few bills in hopes that, when my descendants open the time capsule, they might get some benefit from the increased value of "ancient" money.
  9. Recipes -Since I couldn't include actual food, I would put in some of my favorite recipes. I would probably include Chicken Pot Pie and Pizza Pasta Casserole. I imagine we eat very differently from the way people ate in 1795 and that people in 2235 will eat differently from the way we eat now. 
  10. Finally, I would toss in some books. I might include some biographies from contemporary influencers like Steve Jobs. I would include some novels, too. Again, if we think about how different books and language were 200 years ago, we can only surmise that it will be very different 200 years in the future as well.

How about you? For whom would you make a time capsule and what would you put inside?




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13 comments:

BritishMumUSA said...

This list covers it all, I love history too and miss the European history. :( I didn't think of putting money in there, but when I think about it I would collect all the pretty colorful money and put it in there now :)
Have a great day!
xoxoxo

bloggingastrid said...

Interesting question. I heard that in 1998, people were writing letters to the future too. I was inspired by some of your items, but some were different as I'd like to give a personal rather than general view of what life is like in 2015.

MamaRabia said...

I love that Family Christmas Book! We have one that I found while cleaning this weekend. I've never written a thing in it! I decided to donate so maybe another, more organized family could use it!

Dana said...

I love the idea of leaving your blog! Btw, have you heard of the new series starting the end of this month on the History Channel? It's called Sons of Liberty and it centers on Sam Adams, John Adams, Ben Franklin, etc. It looks good!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I wonder, too, Janine, if blogging is a "fad" or if it is something people will be still doing in some way 100 years form now.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Hopefully, the money would be very valuable by then!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

When we got that book, I didn't really think much of it, but I have filled it out every year. Of course, I'm probably the only person in the world in the last 20 years who has also done baby books for all my kids! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I haven't heard of that series, but it does sound interesting. We to a park in our county over the weekend that is actually a federal park because it's where the Battle of Guilford Courthouse was fought near the end of the Revolutionary war. The girls got a few good history lessons! At one point, my youngest said, "Wait! you mean we could be walking on dead people? Creepy!" I actually thought it was kind of cool to think that we were walking in the same footsteps where soldiers fought and fell a few hundred years ago! :-)

Tamara Bowman said...

A letter, money and newspapers! What awesome and thoughtful ones. I wouldn't even think of those. Even if it wouldn't be worth a lot, I love to collect old coins and bills. They do change the looks!
I would put it my old camera and a smartphone.

BritishMumUSA said...

So didn't think of it that way, but hey you never know :)

Charlene said...

Ooh I like the idea of putting in a hard copy of your blog! What a great idea!! (NOTED for later)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Honestly, I had a hard time coming up with 10! I din't think of the $ until I asked my husband and looked back at what was in the Boston time capsule. :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

When I first started blogging a long time ago, I heard of some service that that would print and bind your blog into a book for you. Ever since then, I have wanted to have that done. (Though, I remember thinking at the time that it was quite expensive!)

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