75-year-old time capsule contains veteran memorials
A time capsule from 1934 was opened Tuesday at the Minneapolis Veterans Home.
The lead box contained everything from military newspapers and photographs to a book about Native American leader Hiawatha and a collection of memorial addresses by President Abraham Lincoln.
The commemorative capsule was discovered in the cornerstone of Building 9 on the Veterans Home campus.
Construction on Building 9 began in 1934 and continued through 1937. At that time, it was common practice to leave so-called time capsules inside the cornerstones or walls of buildings as they were being erected. The goal was to offer future generations a glimpse into what the capsule-compilers found important.
The 75-year-old container was uncovered when crews began the demolition of Building 9, which is being razed due to structural problems. A replacement facility is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2011. It will house a 100-bed, skilled nursing care unit.
Items from the time capsule, as well as the cornerstone of the original Building 9, will be displayed in the new facility.
