Do you remember where you were in 1994? Right here in Denver at the Denver International Airport something special happened. It was the sealing of the 1990 Time Capsule. This wasn’t just any time capsule. It was a vault of memories intended for the people of Colorado in 2094.
The 1990 Time Capsule is located at the airport’s south entrance. A dedication capstone marks its place. The stone bears the Square and Compasses symbol of the Freemasons. Names of two grand lodges and their grandmasters are also there. Airport officials say it shows the generosity of the local Masonic lodges. Stonemasons crafted and laid the stone. That is what stonemasons do.
Beneath the stone, the 1990 Time Capsule holds treasures from our past. Coins and a baseball from Coors Field are inside. Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb’s sneakers represent his “Sneaker Campaign”. Black Hawk casino tokens offer a glimpse into local entertainment. Other memorabilia complete the collection.
A group called the New World Airport Commission is mentioned on the capstone. Unlike the Freemasons, this group did not really exist. Some say the name is close to the New World Order. But a 2007 Westword article suggests a different meaning. It links the name to Antonín Dvořák’s “New World Symphony”. The commission was temporary. It arranged the airport’s opening festivities.
There is a popular theory about the braille tablet above the dedication stone. Some think it is a keypad. They believe touching the dots in the correct sequence will open the 1990 Time Capsule. One airport employee has heard stories. Masons visit the capstone. They swipe their membership cards near the time capsule. They hope to unlock it.
We must wait until 2094 to know for sure what secrets it holds. Some have already tried to open the 1990 Time Capsule. The contents offer a snapshot of Colorado life. What will people in 2094 think of our world? Will they understand our hopes and dreams? The 1990 Time Capsule is more than a container. It is a message across time. It connects us to the future. It reminds us of our past. The 1990 Time Capsule embodies a moment. It is preserved for future generations.