Often, we see a time capsule pop up during the renovation of a city building, an old church or a school. Have you ever heard of three time capsules, from various years, uncovered in different places within one complex? That's what happened this summer in the renovation of the Tribune Tower in Chicago, Illinois. According to records, the capsules were located in the Chicago Tribune newspaper printing plant that was completed in 1920, the iconic tower that was finished in 1925, and the centennial building which was completed in 1950.
Chicago History Museum Director of Exhibitions Paul Durica says they found hundreds of collectibles touching on Chicago's history such as a baseball, possibly from the 1919 World Series, vintage newspaper cartoon illustrations, and photographs of a football game at Soldier Field from 1947. Durica combed through the most significant items of the three time capsules and provided Tom Barnas of WGN9's Chicago Scene with the in-depth history behind the findings.
Durica says, "The thing about time capsules, it freezes a moment of the past. You can open it up, you can see - this is what people cared about, this is what they valued." He says, "Some of it makes a lot of sense to us today, some of it might be a little challenging for us today, but it does give a really unique insight into the past."
In 1922, the Chicago Tribune co-publishers held an international competition for the design of tower. New York architects John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood won the contest, beating out more than 260 entries from 23 countries. Today, some people are lucky enough to call the Tower home, living in newly renovated luxury residential space in the heart of Chicago.
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