{"id":407279,"date":"2026-07-22T00:23:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T00:23:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/407279\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T00:23:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T00:23:41","slug":"whats-in-the-box-long-beach-to-open-50-year-old-time-capsule-wednesday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/407279\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s in the box? Long Beach to open 50-year-old time capsule Wednesday"},"content":{"rendered":"

On July 4, 1976, Long Beach residents gathered an assortment of letters, objects and physical memories for a community time capsule, buried in celebration of the United States\u2019 200th anniversary. The action was also a tribute to the Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) and the former Long Beach City Hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now, a half century later, on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., the capsule will be unearthed as part of a ceremony led by the City of Long Beach and the Historical Society of Long Beach (HSLB).<\/p>\n

\u201cA time capsule is more than a collection of artifacts, it\u2019s a promise between generations,\u201d said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. \u201cFifty years ago, Long Beach residents captured their hopes for the future. Today we\u2019re honored to open that window into our past as we celebrate how far our city has come and recommit ourselves to building an even brighter future for the generations who follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Representatives from the City and the HSLB will make brief remarks before unveiling the contents of the capsule in the Long Beach City Hall Council Chambers (411 W. Ocean Blvd.).<\/p>\n

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The time capsule contains over 84 nostalgic items such as full-sized Bicentennial flags, surprise gifts for the mayor and mayor\u2019s wife, as well as newspapers, publications and high school yearbooks \u2014 including Lakewood, Millikan, Poly and Wilson \u2014 from 1976.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIts most striking contents may be the once ordinary matchbooks and ashtrays branded for the City of Long Beach and a telephone directory that now read as artifacts of a very different time,\u201d said Julie Bartolloto, Executive Director of the HSLB, in a public statement. \u201cAlso, contained are images of the grand July 4, 1976, celebration that also marked the \u2018new\u2019 now demolished civic center.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition, the capsule features handwritten letters from local elementary school students who were tasked with penning their reflections and future aspirations. Several of the former students will attend the ceremony and read their messages aloud during Wednesday\u2019s event.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a city, we have such a fascinating and storied local history to celebrate,\u201d said Cathy De Leon, Director of Library, Arts, and Culture, in a public statement. \u201cHopefully by looking at the past, we\u2019re not only able to reminisce about where we\u2019ve been but also use that history as a guidepost to continue growing and evolving as a community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Office of Mayor Rex Richardson, the City Manager\u2019s Office, LBPL and the City\u2019s Department of Technology and Innovation will host the event in collaboration with the Historical Society of Long Beach, Rancho Los Cerritos, the Arts Council for Long Beach and additional local organizations.<\/p>\n

The time capsule opening is part of Seeds of Resilience, a citywide initiative encouraging residents to explore their respective histories and their connections to Long Beach heritage and the country\u2019s 250th anniversary. The series will conclude with Seeds of Resilience: The Story of Long Beach<\/a>, an artistic showcase for residents to celebrate the city\u2019s diverse history, on Sept. 22 from 2-7 p.m.<\/p>\n

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