You are standing before a giant, stainless steel door – its surface, a perfect mirror reflecting the world around you. This is the entrance to the Crypt of Civilization, an extraordinary time capsule that holds a unique record of our civilization. In 1940, this door was sealed by a man named Thornwell Jacobs with the intention that it wouldn’t be opened until the year 8113.
Imagine a vast cavern below your feet, a 2,000-cubic-foot chamber filled with remnants of the 20th century. The Crypt of Civilization is packed with a fascinating mixture of everyday objects, technological wonders, and cultural artifacts. Imagine a Donald Duck doll, a set of Lincoln Logs, a miniature plastic Lone Ranger figure, and a bottle of Budweiser beer – a snapshot of 1930s life.
But that’s not all. The Crypt also holds books, recordings, and scientific instruments. There are microfilms containing more than 600,000 pages of classic literature, including the Bible, the Koran, and Homer’s Iliad. Also included are voice recordings of historical figures like Hitler, Stalin, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. There’s even a language integrator – a machine to teach the English language to anyone who might open the Crypt.
A true testament to the visionary mind of its creator, the Crypt of Civilization is not just a collection of objects. It’s a monument to human history, preserved for future generations. Its very existence speaks to our desire to bridge the vast gap between the past and the future.