Digging Up the Past
The nation was abuzz this past December when news broke of the discovery of one of the oldest American time capsules on record. Unearthed in a cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House during a routine repair, the container was later revealed to house artifacts relating to patriots Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, who helped bury the objects back in 1795. Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts , which was instrumental in the recovery of the small brass box, now hosts Inside the Box: Massachusetts State House Time Capsule Revealed, an exhibit showcasing its historic contents, including coins, newspapers, a medal depicting George Washington and a silver plaque believed to be engraved by Paul Revere (above). Situated in the Art of the Americas wing, this historic display is surrounded by portraits of many of the Founding Fathers, and is up through April 22 before the items once again go back into the ground in June to be re-discovered some day by future generations.