A time capsule buried 100 years ago at the Naval War College Museum is ready to give up its secrets on Jan. 24, 2025.
The capsule, buried during Newport’s 285th anniversary celebrations in 1924, has been dug up and will be opened at a special event at the Newport Public Library. Only invited guests can attend.
The event will feature the live opening of the capsule, a talk about Newport’s naval history, and a showcase of selected items from inside.
A list from 1924 suggests the capsule contains things like a Naval Station blueprint, old coins and stamps, and even sawdust from a beam of Oliver Hazard Perry’s flagship, USS Lawrence.
Other expected items include Newport Historical Society bulletins, a piece of the first commercial plane that flew between New York and Newport in 1923, and photos, including one of Theodore Roosevelt.
The Naval War College Museum, one of nine official Navy Museums, is in the historic Founders Hall, built in 1820. It displays artifacts and documents from the 1500s to today.
While the museum is open to the public, you need to book in advance to visit. The time capsule event, however, is invite-only.
For more details about the Naval War College Museum and updates on the time capsule opening, check out the museum’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn, or read its blog, “Soundings in Narragansett Bay’s Naval History.”
