The conservators at the Missouri State Archives have finished reviewing the contents of the Missouri State Capitol time capsule. One item that has caught the public’s attention is a brass tube, placed in the capsule by the masons and not on the list of items expected to be inside.

Director of Local Records John Korasick said his staff won’t be opening it.

“Speculation has been that there was oil in the tube or there may be an apron in the tube,” said Korasick, who said that either would have been part of the Masonic ceremony that went into laying the time capsule.

One of the things found with the time capsule in the Missouri State Capitol was not in it, but fastened to a board inside the chamber where the capsule was sealed. It was a stiff card about the size of a business card, and covered in plaster.

Korasick said it turned out to be a ticket that got an attendee at the 1915 cornerstone laying ceremony onto the platform.

“This is the only one we’ve heard of or found, so we’re starting a social media campaign to see if anybody else has one of these in their family treasures; an intact one,” said Korasick.

The ticket had several names on the back that are believed to have been workmen, who wanted to be remembered when the capsule was opened.

A new capsule will be placed in the Capitol in a ceremony on Friday.



