World's Largest Time Capsule | Seward, NE
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Happy July! I hope this holiday week finds you well or, at the very least, persisting through the current hellscape of our times. I don’t know about you, but I’m not feeling particularly patriotic these days. So instead, I’m spending my vacation calling my representatives and thinking about roadside attractions.
Last month, I traveled to Nebraska for an annual conference that brings together travel writers and destination professionals from across the Midwest. It’s one of my favorite annual events, and it was so much fun to see some of my favorite fellow travelers.
While I was on the road, I (of course) had to make a few stops at some Nebraska roadside attractions, including a particularly newsworthy spot. Today, we’re headed to Seward, Nebraska: home of the World’s Largest Time Capsule.
Fast Facts
Dedicated: July 4, 1975
Dimensions: 20 foot by 8 foot by 6 foot concrete vault
Weight: 45 tons
Fun Fact: Guinness World Records has officially retired the designation for the “World’s Largest Time Capsule” so the Seward icon will hold the title in perpetuity.
The History of the World’s Largest Time Capsule
What better way to remember the past than by burying memorabilia in a concrete vault below ground? At least, that’s what Seward writer and historian Harold Keith Davisson thought.
So, in 1975, the Nebraska man decided to create a giant time capsule in front of his furniture and home appliance store. When all was said and done, the 45-ton vault held an estimated 5,000 relics, remembrances and reminders of local life in the mid ‘70s. Reddit users recalled putting in their prized Hot Wheels while others added their drawings.
Most notably though, the vault served as the permanent parking spot for a brand new, yellow 1975 Chevrolet Vega, which was reportedly the cheapest car Davisson could buy. There’s also a blue Kawasaki motorcycle parked down there. On July 4, 1975, the vault was officially sealed with instructions to be opened 50 years later in 2025.
In 1977, Guinness World Records officially certified Davisson’s time capsule as the “world’s largest.” As with many title-holding hot spots though, another capsule claimed to be larger. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Oglethorpe University claimed that its “Crypt of Civilization,” which had been sealed in 1940 was larger. Eventually, Guinness resolved the dispute by retiring the time capsule designation entirely, leaving the Seward time capsule as the de facto record holder in perpetuity.
Never one to be bested though, Davisson added a second time capsule shaped like a pyramid on top of the original in 1983. Its purpose was two-fold: to protect the underground capsule from water damage and add to the record-setting size. Inside, he put an additional vehicle (this time a beat-up 1975 Toyota Corolla) as well as additional memorabilia, phone books and more.
While Davisson has since passed away, his daughter, Trish Davisson Johnson, took up the self-proclaimed title as the “Keeper of the Crypt” in the early 2000s. As the milestone neared, she began making plans for what opening the underground vault would look like.
Although the plaque on the exterior of the time capsule stipulates that it be opened on July 4, 2025, the team responsible for opening the crypt got a head start to ensure that the contents are viewable for the public on the Fourth of July. Preparations started months in advance first to access the interior of the pyramid and then to make plans to get inside the original vault. Johnson shared that the team needed to use heavy machinery and giant saws to access the interior parts of the vault.
According to the Lincoln Journal Star, “The Vega emerged…bearing a license plate reading ‘2025,’ a duct-taped sign reading ‘Greetings from the Davissons,’ and an engine warranty for the first 60,000 miles.” Aside from some rust on the Vega, most of the items in the time capsule seem to be in good condition.
Now that the time capsule has been opened, you may be wondering, “Can it still be called the ‘world’s largest’?” I, personally, have never been a big stickler for rules when it comes to giant attractions and technicalities. In this case, if it’s good enough for Guinness World Records, it’s certainly good enough for me.
In the meantime, the items from the time capsule will be returned to the individuals and relatives of the people who left them. Currently, the letters and items are being stored in the old Davisson furniture store.
Plan Your Visit
If you’re traveling along Interstate 80 across Nebraska, Seward makes for an easy detour. For now, the pieces of the pyramid and capsule exterior remain, but I’m not sure how long they’ll be visible for into the future.
In the meantime, if you don’t have Fourth of July plans and want to see the contents of the time capsule for yourself, head to Seward for the festivities on Friday, July 4. The contents will be displayed following a special program at 2 p.m. The crypt will also be visible on Saturday, July 5 from 12–3 p.m. and Sunday, July 6 from 2-4 p.m.
Address: The World’s Largest Time Capsule, 318 Hillcrest Dr., Seward, NE 68434
Related Links
If you want to read even more about the World’s Largest Time Capsule and its recent unveiling, quite a few local outlets covered the story in anticipation of the July 4 festivities:
“World's Largest Time Capsule in Seward cracked open after 50 years” via the Lincoln Journal Star
“The Battle of the Brew & The World's Largest Time Capsule” via the Discover Seward County Podcast
For even more glimpses inside the time capsule, follow the World’s Largest Time Capsule Facebook page