Making time capsules is a fun activity, and much more fun when someone opens them years later. Time capsules can be any container that can be used to hold objects intended for people who have to open them in the future, be it 5, 10, or even 100 years later. A good time capsule can keep its contents safe, which can last until it is opened by yourself, your grandchildren, or even someone else. In no time at all, you should be able to create a time capsule that will thrill and fascinate people in the future.
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Method 1 of 4: Compiling the Contents of the Time Capsule
Step 1. Determine the target people for the time capsule you are creating
Think about who the time capsule is for. This is useful for determining the contents, location, and container of the capsule. Whether you plan to open it yourself in the future, for your grandchildren, or someone else in the future who finds it by accident, you should clearly explain the purpose of the capsule.
If you're having trouble finding the person you're addressing, think about the type of person you'd most like to open the time capsule with. Would you like your grandparents to leave you a time capsule filled with memorabilia and handwritten notes? Would you feel excited about having to open a 150 year old time capsule left by a long lost person?
Step 2. Make a list of items that may have to be included for the intended person
Depending on the person you're addressing, you may have different priorities for the contents of the capsule. You can still fit more objects in the time capsule than you think. The only limitations are the space and the ability of the objects inside the capsule to be stored safely.
- If the capsules are meant for you, try incorporating personal items into your life at this time. Some of the items that can be included include the earbuds that you have used every day for the past 2 years, old keys, or take-out menus from your favorite restaurant. It can carry your memories in just a few years.
- If you want to make time capsules for your children and grandchildren, look for objects that will interest them about your life and the world. Some personal items belonging to you and your family, such as wedding invitations, and things that reflect the state of the world (such as technology) are good choices.
- If the time capsule is for people living in the future, long after you die, focus on the current era of life. Items that may not be of much value today may amaze someone 75 or 100 years from now.
Step 3. Insert the toys if you want the capsules to be opened by the children
If you're making time capsules with your kids, or are aiming for future kids, simple toys and games can excite kids. Of course, don't pick up their favorite toy at this point. Some of the toys they had when they were younger could interest them.
Toys can change over the years, not in the way you might think. And kids will probably remember it for years to come
Step 4. Include some current magazines and newspapers
If time capsules are aimed at anyone in general, print media containing current events or trends is a great option for future displays to show life in your era. You can even truncate the headlines or articles on the day the capsules are planted.
Be sure to put the paper in a plastic bag so it doesn't get damaged
Step 5. Keep journals, photos and letters as a personal touch
Regardless of whether the time capsule is for you and your family, many people find it helpful to read messages from people in the past. Journals and photos will also give a charming look to other people's lives.
These materials are so prone to breakage that you'll need to put them in a special plastic container if the capsules last for more than five years
Step 6. Choose another object that is solid and not easily damaged
There is no limit on what items can be put in a capsule, as long as there is room and it doesn't expire before opening. Almost all types of food and drink are not suitable for this purpose because they are likely to spoil or rot before opening.
If you're having trouble deciding what to put in the capsule, try remembering your daily activities. What objects do you use? What do you see? What do you read? By asking yourself questions, you can come up with new ideas
Step 7. Write and include a letter, if desired
This gives you the opportunity to tell everything to the person you are addressing, for example about your daily life, fashion, fashion, attitudes and current trends, as well as what you think about the future and what you want to say. You can also write down the purpose of the time capsule.
Write the letter as if it was addressed directly to anyone who will open the time capsule. This can create a connection that is more personal than just a letter stating facts, not communication
Step 8. Record everything that is put in the capsule
Write down all the contents and put the list in your capsule and notes. This is useful for opening the capsule that everything is according to the list, and also as a reminder to you about what items are in the time capsule.
Method 2 of 4: Choosing the Right Container
Step 1. Determine the duration of storage of the time capsule
For a personal time capsule, maybe 10-30 years will suffice, while for a capsule intended for grandchildren, it may take you around 60-70 years. If you want the capsule to be opened in the future, you have to design the logistics.
It's okay if you don't set a specific date for opening the capsules. Maybe you want to open it when you get married or when you retire
Step 2. Consider possible damage to the capsule
No matter the length of time you expect to keep the capsule, property damage can occur before the intended person opens it. You should wrap the contents separately for each item and use a sturdier container that will last a long time.
Step 3. Choose an old shoe box, litter box, or suitcase if you want to keep the capsules short-term and indoors
If the capsules only last for 5-10 years, you can use a container that you normally use every day as they are quite safe and easy to carry, and there is little risk because the capsules are not stored outdoors.
Remember, capsules made of paper or cardboard can be destroyed by floods, fires, and other natural disasters
Step 4. Use a coffee tube if you want a simple and short-term option
If you have a used coffee canister, the aluminum can last for about 10 years. To prevent water from entering through the lid, place the coffee container in a plastic clip bag or other airtight plastic wrap.
Step 5. Use weather-resistant containers if you want to store things for a long time
If you plan to place the capsules outdoors and hope that the container will not be damaged, use a strong and durable container, such as factory or household aluminum, stainless steel, or a PVC plastic container.
- One example of a strong home PVC is a PVC pipe that is covered and coated with pipe glue and on the other side is a cap that can be screwed securely on the pipe.
- Try using desiccant (absorbent) "gel bags," such as those in electronics and vitamin bottles. This material can absorb the moisture contained in the capsule and kill microbes that can damage the objects you place in the time capsule.
Method 3 of 4: Determining the Right Location
Step 1. Think about what people imagine to determine where to place the time capsule
If time capsules are meant for you, you can keep them indoors or grow in your backyard. If the capsule is intended for people who are not family members, use a non-private location.
Make sure the location for placing the outdoor capsule is safe from building and construction projects, such as outside a national park or historic building, especially if you want to plant it underground
Step 2. Bury the time capsule if you want to choose the traditional method
While burying time capsules isn't really the best option, it's a classic way to store time capsules (for a number of reasons). Buried capsules may be lost or forgotten. Being underground also puts the contents at risk of being damaged by moisture.
The positive side of placing capsules underground is that there is less chance of capsules being moved or opened early (unlike placing capsules indoors). Placing the capsule outdoors has a good chance of staying there
Step 3. Place the time capsule indoors if you want a safer solution
Beyond the material, placing time capsules indoors is a much safer method than underground storage. While it's more tempting to open it and less charming than burying it, this method is worth considering if you want to keep it short term.
Step 4. Place the time capsule outdoors, but above ground for a fun challenge
One interesting alternative is to store the time capsules in an airtight steel food container hidden in a masonry or wooden hole made of disguised polyurethane.
Time capsules that are stored on the ground are called geocapsules and can provide an adventurous experience of time capsules
Method 4 of 4: Saving the Time Capsule
Step 1. Write down the current date and the desired opening date of the container
This is to inform the intended person of the exact date of manufacture of the time capsule, and if found by accident, they can know the exact time to open it.
- Do not mark the outside of the capsule with ink if you wish to bury it. Engraving the capsule is the best option, but you can also use a weather-resistant paint.
- For added security, write the date on the inside and outside of the time capsule.
Step 2. Do something to remind yourself and others about the capsule
At a minimum you should record the location and date of opening of the capsule on paper, digitally, and in a safe place. If you use a calendar, set reminders every year, or schedule to email yourself regularly about the specified date for opening the time capsule.
Try writing the place and date of the opening of the time capsule in your letter, or leaving a letter with directions to your grandson
Step 3. Make additional adjustments to the time capsule that is expected to last longer than your lifespan
If the time capsule is intended for a time beyond your age, make sure that there are several people who know the exact location and place around it. Ask them to retain the information properly, and pass it on to others if necessary.
- Take a snapshot of the capsule storage location, record GPS coordinates, and record all important data that can be used to find the exact location of the time capsule.
- Register the time capsule to make its status more official, and increase the chance of being found if all else fails to find it.
Step 4. Close the time capsule tightly and store
Make sure you have closed it firmly and tightly. Do not forget to use a plastic bag on the outside if the capsules are stored outdoors. If the time capsule is aimed at oneself, it's hard to resist the temptation to open it. However, you will soon forget about it until you are reminded of the time capsule.
Step 5. Place a marker on the location used to bury the time capsule
Even if it's just a painted stone, placing something easy to see (but not too conspicuous) where you buried the capsule will help you or your future target audience not to lose this important object.
Tips
- Whenever possible, we recommend using non-acidic paper if you want to include books, papers, or letters.
- Look for any time capsules you may already have. Did your grandmother forget to leave her suitcase, chest, or diary in the attic? Does the library in your city still have old maps, magazines, or books for you to explore?
- Don't forget to put the current date on the time capsule.
Warning
- Also consider the age of an object. Plastic toys can last much longer than magazines or books, especially if the time capsule is at risk of water exposure.
- Always treat antiques, historical items and other records of the past with care and respect so that the message can be passed on to future generations.
- Avoid attaching perishable objects to the time capsule. Nobody wants a 40-year-old peanut butter sandwich.
