Input sought in Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule through July 30

Don’t miss out on a once in a life time opportunity. Come participate in the 2115 Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule Project. The people of Asheville and Buncombe County have less than 30 days to get involved in the time capsule to be opened in 100 years in 2115.

Opportunities for public input into the time capsule project will continue to be offered between now and July 30, 2015.

Citizen Roll Call:  Stop by any branch of the Asheville Buncombe Library, or any City of Asheville recreation center to sign the citizen signature page and become a part of Asheville history. All signatures will be placed inside the time capsule.

Time Capsule Content:  Make comments on what should go in the time capsule. Go to the City of Asheville website at ashevillenc.gov under City Projects to make time capsule content recommendations.

Movies in the Park:  Stop by the Time Capsule Booth to sign the Citizen Roll Call and make time capsule recommendations during Movies in the Park, 6:30 p.m., Pack Square Park on July 10.

The Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule Selection Panel will make the final selection of the time capsule contents. Public input on the time capsule content will constitute 50% of the selection process. The Selection Panel will consider content on the suitability, size, and compatibility of materials to survive for 100 years.

Time Capsule Selection Panel Members

John Boyle, Asheville Citizen Times

Kit Cramer, Asheville Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Kevan Frazier, Asheville Masonic Temple, Mt. Hermon Lodge

Charlie Glazener, Asheville City Schools

Kathy Hughes, Buncombe County

James Lee, UNCA Center for Diversity

Beth Maczka, YWCA

Polly McDaniels, City of Asheville

Williams Eakins, Historic Resources Commission

Sasha Mitchell, African American Heritage Commission

Donald Porter, Buncombe County Schools

Melissa Pennscott, YMCA

Constance Richards, Pubic Art & Cultural Commission

Jack Thomson, Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County

Ann Wright, Asheville Buncombe Library

Heather South, Advisor, State Archives of North Carolina, Western Region Archives

The time capsule container will be fabricated locally in Asheville. The stainless steel box, the size of a large shoe box, is designed to be air and water tight so its contents will hold up for the next 100 years, and be intact when opened in 2115. The time capsule design and guidelines on how to best preserve contents follow recommendations from such sources as the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute.

The 2115 Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule will be installed under the cornerstone of the Vance Monument in Pack Square Park at 6:30 p.m. September 18 as part of the final Movies in the Park of the season.

Asheville’s 1897 time capsule was unearthed from this same location as part of the recent restoration of the Vance Monument. The time capsule was placed in the Vance Monument by the Asheville Masonic Temple and local Asheville leaders of the day. The contents including such items as newspapers, a bible and coins are archived with the Western Regional Archives of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. The coins will carry forward to the 2115 time capsule.

Stay up to date on the 2115 Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule Project at the City of Asheville website at asheville.gov under City Projects. For information, contact Debbie Ivester at 828-259-5804, divester@ashevillenc.gov.