A time capsule buried at Boot Hill Museum in 1972 has been unearthed and its contents have been revealed.

In the lead up to the museum's groundbreaking ceremony for its expansion project, museum assistant director Lyne Johnson revealed some of the items inside.

"There was a plaque from TM Lumber that was located where Boot Hill Distillery is now," she said. "There were also dentures, Centennial coins with Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and Doc Holliday on them, vials of grain, a contact lens, bank card, sales tax form and a sign for Evan's Drum Heads."

As part of the expansion project, the museum has launched the theme, "Save Our Stories."

The theme is part of the capital campaign and has led the museum to look to the future.

"With this time capsule," Johnson said, "we will be putting together another capsule that will be put in at our new exhibits building once complete.

"Right now we have a temporary chest set up where people can bring items now to be placed into the new capsule later on."

Some other items from the 1972 capsule were clothes, a scrapbook, boots and paper items.

"Some of the papers did have some water damage so we are attempting to have those curated better," Johnson said. "Another item we loved was an honorary Marshal badge that was placed in from former Boot Hill Museum director George Henrichs."

Honorary Marshal badges have been presented to notable people that come into Dodge City including Henrichs receiving one himself.

Other notable Honorary Marshal's have been John F. Kennedy, Johnny Cash, Richard Petty and Burt Reynolds.

To place items into the future time capsule, visit Boot Hill Museum at 500 W. Wyatt Earp.

The groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday kicked off the beginning of construction on the new expansion project that will see the new building boasting a 3,000-square foot temporary exhibit hall that will showcase traveling exhibits and also be used for educational presentations, temporary classrooms, hands-on workshops, and special events and will have eight new exhibits, a temporary exhibit gallery, lobby and gift shop.

The project is set to be completed in 2020.

Boot Hill Museum is open 362 days of the year. Its winter hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

To contact the writer email vmarshall@dodgeglobe.com