Last year, a time capsule was unearthed and opened in Raleigh and you’d think they were giving away money – that many people showed up to see what on Earth had been in the Earth all those years. Without a doubt, the contents of time capsules are irresistibly curious. It’s engaging and fun to know what our ancestors thought was important enough in their day to include in a gift to future generations. We dug up (no pun intended) a list of time capsules waiting for their big day in North Carolina. Check them out below.
- Aberdeen time capsule - to be raised in 2093
Flickr/Gerry Dincher
waymarking.com/CoinsandPens Aberdeen’s time capsule is located in front of the Page Memorial Library. A marker sits atop the spot. It indicates the capsule was placed by the Aberdeen Centennial Committee in 1994. It’s located at 100 S Poplar St., Aberdeen, NC 28315.
- Timeless time capsule on the grounds of the State Capitol in Raleigh - a time capsule with no set date to open
Flickr/Dana Lane As with many very early time capsules, no date was set to open the time capsule located beneath the cornerstone of the Confederate soldier monument on the grounds of the State Capitol. The time capsule, placed in 1894, reportedly contains Confederate currency, legislative bills, maps, items belonging to Gen. Robert E. Lee, a Confederate song book, copies of journals and more. The State Capitol is located at 1 E Edenton St., Raleigh, NC 27601.
- Badin Centennial time capsule - to be opened 2113
waymarking.com/NCDaywalker
Google Maps [streetview] Historic Badin dropped a time capsule into the Earth in 2013 during their Centennial celebration. It’s slated to be opened during their Bicentennial in 2113. You’ll find the time capsule under a marker in front of the town museum located at 62 Pine St., Badin, NC.
- North Carolina U.S. Bicentennial Time Capsule, Raleigh - to be opened in 2076
waymarking.com/reg3 Just in front of the liberty bell that is located next to the North Carolina Museum of History, there is a plaque on the ground marking the spot of the buried time capsule. The plaque reads: Beneath this point lies a time capsule from the Bicentennial year 1976 to be opened in the Tricentennial year 2076. The North Carolina Museum of History is located at 5 E Edenton St., Raleigh, NC 27601.
- First Prebyterian Church, Raleigh - to be opened in 2076
Flickr/Gary Craig
waymarking.com/silverquill Located on the Salisbury Street side of the church, and next to the sidewalk, is a marker for the buried time capsule beneath. It was sealed during our country’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976, and is scheduled to be opened in 2076 during the Tricentennial celebration. The First Presbyterian Church is located at 112 S Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601.
- Old Orange County Courthouse in Hillsborough - to be opened in 2100
waymarking.com/showbizkid
Flickr/Lesley Looper The time capsule located at the old courthouse in Hillsborough was placed in the summer of 2000. It’s located right on the lawn and contains items of pertinent interest to Orange County. The old courthouse is located on E King Street in Hillsborough, NC.
- Smithfield Time Capsule - to be opened in 2077
waymarking.com/NCDayWalker Down by the river in historic Smithfield lies a curious monument that contains a time capsule placed in 1977 to mark the Bicentennial. The plaque on the monument claims it contains “momentos of our time.” It’s slated to be opened in the year 2077. The time capsule can be found at this location.
- Henderson time capsule - to be opened in 2041
Google Maps [streetview]
waymarking.com/showbizkid In 1991, Henderson was celebrating their 150th birthday and they buried a time capsule next to Fire Station No. 2. It’s slated to be raised/opened in the year 2041 during their Bicentennial celebration. Henderson’s Fire Station No. 2 is located at 205 N Garnett St., Henderson, NC 27536.
- Raeford time capsule - to be opened in the year 2101
Flickr/J. Stephen Conn The county seat of Hoke County, Raeford placed a time capsule next to the clock in front of City Hall in 2001. The plaque marking the spot says it may be opened in the year 2101 - by order of the Mayor. Raeford City Hall is located at 205 N. Main St., Raeford, NC 28376.
- Sampson County time capsule - to be opened in 2184
waymarking.com/YoSam
Flickr/Gerry Dincher The time capsule located at the Sampson County Courthouse is unlike the others found on this list. It’s above ground, entombed in a block of concrete. The unburied time capsule will be opened in the year 2184. The courthouse is located at 101 Main St., Clinton, NC 28328.
- Rockingham Bicentennial time capsule - to be opened in 2084
waymarking.com/Padon Underneath a marker in the city’s town square, there is a time capsule that was sealed in 1984 to mark the city’s Bicentennial. In the year 2084, Rockingham will celebrate their 300th birthday and the time capsule will be raised and opened. You can find the town square near 298 West Washington Street in Rockingham.
We’d love to know about other time capsules in North Carolina. Feel free to join the discussion! For more captivating North Carolina history, take a look at these rare photos showing what life looked like in North Carolina in 1936.
Flickr/Gerry Dincher
waymarking.com/CoinsandPens
Aberdeen’s time capsule is located in front of the Page Memorial Library. A marker sits atop the spot. It indicates the capsule was placed by the Aberdeen Centennial Committee in 1994. It’s located at 100 S Poplar St., Aberdeen, NC 28315.
Flickr/Dana Lane
As with many very early time capsules, no date was set to open the time capsule located beneath the cornerstone of the Confederate soldier monument on the grounds of the State Capitol. The time capsule, placed in 1894, reportedly contains Confederate currency, legislative bills, maps, items belonging to Gen. Robert E. Lee, a Confederate song book, copies of journals and more. The State Capitol is located at 1 E Edenton St., Raleigh, NC 27601.
waymarking.com/NCDaywalker
Google Maps [streetview]
Historic Badin dropped a time capsule into the Earth in 2013 during their Centennial celebration. It’s slated to be opened during their Bicentennial in 2113. You’ll find the time capsule under a marker in front of the town museum located at 62 Pine St., Badin, NC.
waymarking.com/reg3
Just in front of the liberty bell that is located next to the North Carolina Museum of History, there is a plaque on the ground marking the spot of the buried time capsule. The plaque reads: Beneath this point lies a time capsule from the Bicentennial year 1976 to be opened in the Tricentennial year 2076. The North Carolina Museum of History is located at 5 E Edenton St., Raleigh, NC 27601.
Flickr/Gary Craig
waymarking.com/silverquill
Located on the Salisbury Street side of the church, and next to the sidewalk, is a marker for the buried time capsule beneath. It was sealed during our country’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976, and is scheduled to be opened in 2076 during the Tricentennial celebration. The First Presbyterian Church is located at 112 S Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601.
waymarking.com/showbizkid
Flickr/Lesley Looper
The time capsule located at the old courthouse in Hillsborough was placed in the summer of 2000. It’s located right on the lawn and contains items of pertinent interest to Orange County. The old courthouse is located on E King Street in Hillsborough, NC.
waymarking.com/NCDayWalker
Down by the river in historic Smithfield lies a curious monument that contains a time capsule placed in 1977 to mark the Bicentennial. The plaque on the monument claims it contains “momentos of our time.” It’s slated to be opened in the year 2077. The time capsule can be found at this location.
In 1991, Henderson was celebrating their 150th birthday and they buried a time capsule next to Fire Station No. 2. It’s slated to be raised/opened in the year 2041 during their Bicentennial celebration. Henderson’s Fire Station No. 2 is located at 205 N Garnett St., Henderson, NC 27536.
Flickr/J. Stephen Conn
The county seat of Hoke County, Raeford placed a time capsule next to the clock in front of City Hall in 2001. The plaque marking the spot says it may be opened in the year 2101 - by order of the Mayor. Raeford City Hall is located at 205 N. Main St., Raeford, NC 28376.
waymarking.com/YoSam
The time capsule located at the Sampson County Courthouse is unlike the others found on this list. It’s above ground, entombed in a block of concrete. The unburied time capsule will be opened in the year 2184. The courthouse is located at 101 Main St., Clinton, NC 28328.
waymarking.com/Padon
Underneath a marker in the city’s town square, there is a time capsule that was sealed in 1984 to mark the city’s Bicentennial. In the year 2084, Rockingham will celebrate their 300th birthday and the time capsule will be raised and opened. You can find the town square near 298 West Washington Street in Rockingham.
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