National WWI Museum cracks open 100 year old time capsule after KCPD bomb squad inspection

Twelve items were featured on stage at the National WWI Museum on Oct. 16, displaying photos, newspapers articles, and more that were hidden inside of the 100 year old time capsule.

This morning, a century-old time capsule was opened for the first time at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The ceremony was led by members of the museum, memorial leadership and historians as they revealed the items to the public. 

The capsule was installed in the cornerstone of the Liberty Memorial Tower in 1924—and consisted of 15 items ranging from newspaper articles, a copy of the U.S. Constitution, and more. 

President and CEO of the National WWI Museum Matthew Naylor began the ceremony by discussing the purpose of the event and the time capsule’s significance to the museum.

“A century ago, construction was well underway here, building the Liberty Memorial tower, which was built to honor the courage of those who served from the region and the sacrifice that they made,” says Naylor on stage. “The people of Kansas City responded to that by building this spectacular memorial to honor those who served.” 

Naylor added that the time capsule was laid with the intention that it would be opened 100 years later. The 1924 ceremony involved airplanes circling overhead, patriotic band concert music and even released doves.

“Here we are as they had planned, 100 years later, to open this capsule,” says Naylor on stage. “Isn’t that great? Who would have thought that we’d be here?”

During the live stream, the museum showed off the process of retrieving the time capsule after being hidden for a century.

The microphone was then handed off to Christopher Warren, the museum’s Chief Curator, who told the audience about the objects that were stored behind 18 inches of concrete and limestone.

“In order for us to get it out of there, we actually had to drill into the inside of the wall to retrieve it,” says Warren. “It was not easy. There was no door to open, to pull the time capsule out.”

Warren told the audience that 12 of the 15 items were opened prior to today’s ceremony to best ensure preservation. As a result of the century-old film within the time capsule, the Kansas City Police Department bomb squad was called to ensure the time capsule was safe to open.

“Film in the early days of cinema often was made with nitrate,” says Warren while presenting his speech. “As nitrate deteriorates over time, it becomes highly flammable, so flammable that when oxygen comes in contact with it, it could explode.”

According to Warren, the curation team spent 8 hours carefully removing the wrappings of each item with razor blades and tweezers. 

Unexpectedly, the team also found faint signatures inside the box. 

“In the audience today, there is a descendant whose grandfather was an engraver in Kansas City at the time, and he did some engraving on things that were in the time capsule itself,” says Warren on stage. “Their family lore is that his signature is on the time capsule somewhere.”

The three items that were revealed for the first time consisted of a tube of seeds that represent the agricultural community of Kansas City. Seeds ranged from Whippoorwill cowpeas, fulgrim oats, Virginia soybeans, cotton, white corn, and more. 

Other items ranged from letters from the 30th U.S. president, Calvin Coolidge, and an attempt to get a letter from General John J. Pershing, which he was unable to write due to being on a trip.

“Ladies and gentlemen, you know what this is? This is a 100-year-old out of office memo,” says Warren. “General Pershing is on vacation, but will respond to you when he returns to the office.” 

A student from Lee Summit High School, Cooper Ford, read a segment of an article by the Kansas City Star that was published in 1921.

The last time was presented by Cooper Ford, a student at Lee Summit High School, who read a segment from the printing plate of a Kansas City Star article that was published on Nov. 1, 1921. 

The event was live streamed on Facebook and Youtube at 10:30 a.m., where over 500 individuals were able to watch the broadcast. Students from Lee Summit High School, Pershing Elementary, and Lincoln College Prep Academy were invited to see the reveal in person.

Vice President of Marketing and Guest Services, Karis Erwin, ended the ceremony by informing the audience that the National WWI Museum plans to bury a time capsule of its own by 2026. 

“What would you tell future generations? What objects best represent your life today? Let us know what you think we should include,” says Erwin on stage. “Your suggestions might be related to the museum and memorial, to our home here in Kansas City, or to the enduring impact of World War One.”

Those interested in submitting ideas of what to put into the 2026 Time Capsule can put in their recommendations online.