Boston opens ‘oldest’ US time capsule from 1795

NEW YORK - It dates back to 1795, and has been dubbed the oldest time capsule in America. On Tuesday, a museum in Boston re-opened the relic, last seen over a century and a half ago.

The Museum of Fine Arts in the northeastern city opened the time capsule at a press conference at 6 p.m. (7 a.m. Wednesday, Manila time).

It was originally placed under the State House cornerstone in 1795 by then governor Samuel Adams, one of the founding fathers of the United States, and American Revolution patriot Paul Revere.

It was a custom of the time thought to bring good luck.

The capsule, together with miscellaneous coins and newspapers, was removed last month, weighed and x-rayed, officials said.

It last had been unearthed in 1855, when its contents were documented and cleaned.

Additional items were added before it was plastered into the underside of a massive granite cornerstone.

The museum says the capsule—a bit smaller than a cigar box—weighs 10 pounds (4.5 kilos) and measures 5.5 inches (14 cm) by 7.5 inches by 1.5 inches.

It contains silver and copper coins dating from 1652 and 1855, an engraved silver plate, a copper medal depicting George Washington, newspapers, cards, the seal of the commonwealth and a title page from the Massachusetts colony records. — Agence France-Presse