People have always found creative ways to leave behind a snapshot of who they were and what they valued.

There are so many different types of buried treasure, but most aren’t meant to be found or discovered. A time capsule, on the other hand, is a specially-prepared gift⏤a post-dated present to the future. People, buildings, towns, cities, and even entire countries have buried time capsules to speak to future generations, and when one is finally opened, it is almost impossible not to be curious as to its contents. A personal or family time capsule likely won’t make the evening news, but it can be a fun way to speak to future family members or to current members who are young and who will be older when it is opened.

There are no rules⏤no right or wrong⏤when creating a time capsule, although it should obviously be housed in an airtight and water tight container. You should also avoid putting anything inside that will rot, mold, or decay. A piece of 4-inch diameter PVC pipe with a pipe cap is a great container for a time capsule. Here are a few things your time capsule could contain. Your own imagination may lead you to even more ideas, or better ideas.

Letters

  • You could describe the important markers or milestones in the history of your family or make predictions as to future markers and milestones.
  • You could include a family tree that maps out previous generations of your family.
  • You could give unsolicited advice to future generations of your family, something along the lines of the most treasured nuggets of wisdom you have picked up over the course of your life.

Creative Work

  • You could include samples of creative work created by family members. Is there a musician in your family? Include sheet music and lyrics to their music, along with a media file with audio recordings. A writer? Include samples of their finest stories and essays. An architect? Include sketches of their house designs.

Recipes

  • Every family has recipes tied to family memories. These are the ones you had growing up or when you went to your grandparent’s house.
  • If there are recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation, put them in the time capsule to make sure they keep getting handed down.

Note: This can be such a fun project to do with young children.

Copyright 2023 Kesel Wilson (entirely, 100% human-created)

Please share my writing with your friends and family.