What will someone in Clinton think of our community 100 years from now?

As part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the Clinton Historical Society is creating a time capsule to be sealed in 2026 and opened in 2126.

The capsule will be stored at Clinton High School, where it will remain for the next century. Our goal is to give future generations a glimpse of what life was like in Clinton in 2026—not just the major events of our time, but the ordinary details that make up everyday life.

What belongs in a time capsule?

We are looking for items that help tell the story of our community. The most interesting things to someone in 2126 may be things that seem completely ordinary to us today.

Possible contributions might include:

• Photographs of local places, schools, events, or everyday life
• Local newspapers or newspaper pages
• Restaurant menus
• Event programs, flyers, or community publications
• Maps
• Advertisements
• School programs, artwork, writing, or student work
• Receipts and other examples of everyday life
• Letters describing life in Clinton in 2026
• Small, flat, or thin items that help document the people, places, activities, and experiences of our community

We are especially interested in items that provide context. A photograph, for example, is even more meaningful when we know who or what is pictured, where and when the photograph was taken, and why it is significant.

A very small space for a very big story

The time capsule is only 5 inches wide and 22 inches long, so we cannot include large or bulky objects. We will need to be selective about what goes into the capsule.

We also want to make sure that anything selected can safely survive 100 years.

For that reason, the Society will review all proposed donations and prepare accepted materials for long-term preservation. Archival-quality paper, photographs, and other materials will be housed using appropriate preservation methods.

What should not go into the capsule?

Because the capsule will be sealed for a century, some things are not appropriate for long-term storage. Please do not propose:

• Food, candy, liquids, or anything that can spoil
• Plants or other materials that can decay
• Chemicals, medications, or hazardous materials
• Large or bulky objects
• Electronics, batteries, or electronic devices
• Valuable or irreplaceable objects
• Personal information such as passwords, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive information

Please also do not staple, paper-clip, rubber-band, tape, or laminate materials intended for the capsule. Do not write in pen, please only use graphite pencil. These materials and methods can damage items over time.

The Society will handle the archival preparation of accepted materials, including appropriate enclosures and preservation methods.

What would you want someone in 2126 to know?

We invite everyone in our community to think like a historian.

Look around your home, your workplace, your school, your business, and your neighborhood. What seems ordinary today but might be fascinating to someone 100 years from now?

That is the kind of story we want to preserve.

If you have an idea for something that could help future generations understand Clinton in 2026, we would love to hear from you.

Together, we can leave behind a snapshot of our community for the people who will call Clinton home in 2126.