More than 200 years after Samuel Adams and Paul Revere originally buried this time capsule in 1795, history enthusiasts would have to wait a little bit longer to see what was inside. After the seven hours that it took to pry the item from the cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House where it was discovered, it took an addition four hours for officials to loosen the screws that were holding it shut before the items were finally removed and examined during an official ceremony on Tuesday night.
The event was broadcast live from Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Pam Hatchfield, head of objects conservation for the museum, “used tools that included a porcupine quill and her grandfather’s dental tool to help her safely remove the contents of the 10-pound box, which was uncovered during repairs for a water leak at the State House last month” (CNN).
Among the items removed from the time capsule were five folded newspapers, a Massachusetts commonwealth seal, a title page from Massachusetts colony records, an engraved silver plate and at least 24 coins. The coins included a pine tree shilling from 1652 and a copper medal showing George Washington.
To see footage from the broadcast and read more on this story, Click here.
