A century ago, Missouri officials placed a time capsule inside the cornerstone of the Capitol, as it was being built to replace the previous building that burned in 1911.
On July 3, Gov. Jay Nixon and others will unveil the original time capsule and announce the contents to be placed in a new time capsule, during a ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the laying of the Capitol's cornerstone.
Nixon is inviting Missourians to weigh in on what should be included in that new time capsule, which will include items representing Missouri government, technology, sports and culture. It is to remain sealed until the Capitol's 200th anniversary in 2115.
Missourians have until midnight June 20 to submit their ideas, online at Mo.gov/TimeCapsule or on Twitter using #MoTimeCapsule.
Those whose submissions are chosen will be recognized with their names placed with the items in the time capsule. If more than one person suggests an item, the governor's office said in a news release, the individual who nominated the item first will have his or her name placed in the time capsule.
"This is a unique opportunity to give future generations of Missourians a window into how we live now, and the many reasons the Missouri of 2015 is a great place to live, work and play," Nixon said. "I encourage all Missourians to help us commemorate this historic occasion and make their mark on history by weighing in on what the new time capsule should contain."
Records indicate the 1915 time capsule included copies of Jefferson City, St. Louis and Kansas City newspapers, a history of Missouri and a copy of the constitutional amendment authorizing construction of the new Capitol.
The July 3 ceremony will be at 1 p.m., on the Capitol's south (High Street) side.
Nixon will be joined by Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City; Missouri Supreme Court Judge George W. Draper III; historian Bob Priddy; Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin and members of the A.F. & A.M and the M.W. Prince Hall F. & A.M. Masonic Grand Lodges.
Funding for construction of the current state Capitol was approved in 1911, and it was completed in 1917.
The Capitol is a 500,000-square-foot living history exhibit of art, architecture and state politics housing the offices of Missouri's statewide elected officials and legislators.
In 2014, Gov. Nixon joined members of the Missouri General Assembly to discuss the need to make critical repairs and renovations to the Missouri State Capitol to address deteriorating stonework on the exterior of the Capitol. In 2015, the General Assembly appropriated $40 million in bonds for those repairs.
What would you put in the time capsule?
A new Missouri time capsule will be placed next month to honor the 100th anniversary of the Missouri State Capitol Cornerstone, and ideas are needed on what to include. The new capsule is meant to represent Missouri government, technology, sports and culture, and will remain sealed for the next 100 years.
So what would you put in the time capsule? Tweet your ideas using the #MoTimeCapsule or submit them online at mo.gov/timecapsule.