1887 Time Capsule From Robert E. Lee Statue Opened In Richmond: Here's What Was Found

RICHMOND, VA — An 1887 time capsule discovered at the site of the former Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond was opened Wednesday and among its water-damaged contents were three books.

The time capsule was opened by a historic preservation team at the Department of Historic Resources lab in Richmond. The time capsule was much smaller than expected by historians. Also, instead of copper, as originally thought by historians, the box was made of lead.

The team took several hours to open the capsule on Wednesday because the box itself was considered an artifact.

When the box was finally opened around 3:15 p.m., Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam was on hand to view the contents of the time capsule.

The capsule was found last Friday as crews were dismantling the pedestal that held the Lee monument. It was found about 20 feet above ground in the pedestal’s tower, not the base.

Historians had expected the box would be 14 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches. The box turned out to be 8 inches wide, 11.5 inches long and 4 inches deep.

Based on records, historians had believed about 60 objects would be in the capsule, many of them related to the Confederacy. But only three books, an envelope and a coin were found in the box.

A newspaper article from 1887 had suggested the capsule contained Civil War memorabilia and a “picture of Lincoln lying in his coffin.”

After the opening of the box, Northam said he is not certain if it was the same time capsule that historians believed was inside the pedestal. One of the books in the box was an almanac from 1875, the governor said.

According to Northam’s Chief of Staff Clark Mercer, this could be a second box and not the 1887 time capsule described by historians, 8News reported.

The historic preservation team at the Richmond lab will spend the next few days cataloging the materials found in the capsule, officials said.

In September, a new time capsule was placed in the base of the pedestal where the Lee statue stood. If the pedestal were to be removed from the location, the time capsule would be stored somewhere else at the same site on Monument Avenue, according to the governor's office.

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