A second time capsule is found in base of Lee statue

On Dec. 27, crews found a second 1887 time capsule, located in the base of the former statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue in Richmond. The capsule was opened on Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. at the Department of Historic Resources lab, located at 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, 23221. The discovery comes 11 days after a different and unknown time capsule was discovered.

This appears to be the time capsule that historians believe was placed on Oct. 27, 1887 – and it is made of copper, and matches the size listed in the historical record.

Records from the Library of Virginia suggest that 37 Richmond residents, organizations, and businesses contributed about 60 objects (such as a Bible, ammunition, buttons, Confederate money, books, 12 copper coins and more) to the capsule, many of which are believed to be related to the Confederacy.

Crews previously also located the first 1887-time capsule of Confederate artifacts 11 days prior. It was discovered by crew members disassembling the pedestal that formerly held the Robert E. Lee statue.

Workers noticed something that looked “different,” so they chiseled down with a hammer, and found the top of a time capsule – located inside a large block, under one inch of cement. It was located approximately 20 feet in the air, in the tower, not in the pedestal’s base. It was located approximately 8 feet from the outside of the granite and about one foot from the edge of the core. It was largely undamaged.

The stone was removed and lowered to the ground before historic preservation teams were able to confirm the actual time capsule.

It will be transported to the Department of Historic Resources, so it can be opened using best practices for historic preservation to maintain the integrity of the artifacts.