Reasons Why to Not Bury a Time Capsule

Reasons Why to Not Bury a Time Capsule

Baby Time Capsule

 

Never bury a time capsule. We have said it dozens of times, and will continue to say it. We have been saying this since the beginning of our company, yet people continue to do it. I have been asked many times by many people why you shouldn’t. As a result, I have decided to write a blog explaining the reasons.

The year was 1957. Some called it a publicity stunt, others called it a raffle. Nonetheless, a brand new 1957 Plymouth Belvedere was placed into a secure vault and buried beneath the city of Tulsa. Everyone put the answer to one question in the box. The question was simple, “How many people will be living in Tulsa in the year 2007?” The rules were simple . . . Whoever came closest to the actual, official number would win the car in 2007! If they were not living, it would be given to their next of kin.
That person would also receive a $100 trust fund that had been accruing interest since 1957, a 5 gallon can of gasoline, a jar of crude oil, some bobby pins, a woman’s compact, and several other things. What an amazing idea, right? Yes, it was! The winning entrant, one Raymond Humbertson, guessed 384,743. The actual figure became 382,457. Mr. Humbertson died in 1979 and only distant relatives remained.

Bury a Time Capsule

Photo from: http://marcus-brown.com/how-to-pull-off-an-epic-time-capsule/

 

The problem is that, like almost all buried time capsules, there was nothing of value left for his distant relatives to receive. Yes, they shipped the car to themselves in New Jersey, where, at the time of this writing, it still remains. There is talk about restoring it, but there is a large cost involved with that.

So, what happened? Why was this car little more than a muddy, rusted mess? The answer is simple . . . Mother Nature! You see, our world is in a constant state of decay. Things break down. Seals break. Humidity changes and water are devastating to paper information and electronics. Over time, no matter how good a product is sealed, earth movement, temperature, natural disaster, moisture, etc will eventually take over every form of seal. Once these seals are compromised, it is just a matter of time until your memorabilia is destroyed. Paul Hudson of Oglethorpe University estimates that more than 80 percent of all time capsules are lost and will not be opened on their intended date. Read the full statement here.

Beyond the reality of your time capsule being damaged, there is the probability that your time capsule will be lost! Why is this . . . Basically, “X” never really marks the spot, and contrary to popular beliefs, treasure maps do not work very well! You can bury your time capsule by the big oak tree, but what if the new interstate requires the oak tree be cut down? What if the new owners of the house would rather put a pool there? No matter how many landmarks you use, a map will simply change over time.

At The Original Time Capsule Company, our time capsules are not designed to be buried. We want to save your precious memorabilia, and would never want you to put your precious items in danger of being destroyed. While I am sure the world will keep on trying to bury their time capsules, we recommend that you safely tuck them away in a closet, or display it on a shelf so it can be a wonderful conversation piece. This will ensure that your memories are safe and will be around for many years to come.

 

Get your own decorative Baby or Wedding Time Capsule from www.timecapsule.com, and start making your memories last forever, today.
For more information on the buried car, check out these websites:

Miss Belvedere

Buried Car
Tulsa 2007
Time Capsule Car

 

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Mark

www.timecapsule.com

0 thoughts on “Reasons Why to Not Bury a Time Capsule

  1. Pingback: Why Not to Bury a Time Capsule | Time Capsule Company