Seward set to open world’s largest time capsule after 50 years

SEWARD, Neb. (KLKN) — Seward is known as Nebraska’s Fourth of July City due to its festive celebrations every Independence Day.

This year will be extra special due to the town’s 50-year-old time capsule, which is also the world’s largest time capsule, according to Guiness World Records.

It was sealed on July 4, 1975, with about 5,000 items in it.

The time capsule was created by businessman Harold Davisson to preserve memories of that time for his friends and family.

Clark Kolterman, chairman of the Fourth of July celebration committee, went to school with Davisson’s daughter as a teenager.

“Many people know about the time capsule,” Kolterman said. “They’ve heard about it for the last 50 years, and Harold, in his wisdom wanted it to be open so that people there could remember it.”

The capsule contains a brand-new Chevrolet Vega from 1975, as well as a Kawasaki motorcycle.

The removal of these items will require complicated equipment, so organizers will have them out before the celebrations begin on July 4.

Kolterman said the Chevrolet will be prepared so that it can be driven in a parade that day, finally adding to the car’s zero mileage.

The historical mementos will be displayed at the city’s celebration. For community members who placed items inside the capsule, a valid ID will be needed before they can be reunited with them.

Kolterman said the items preserved were representative of the time, such as a pet rock and Teflon skillet.

“Barbie that came out that year,” he said. “Lot of things are in the time capsule, along with letters and memorabilia. A sack of corn is in there, a whole lot of things that people put in to see what it would be like in 50 years.”