Left to right: House Speaker Brad Wilson, Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President J. Stuart Adams, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matt Durrant place time capsule in the Utah State Capitol, May 18, 2022.
SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Spencer Cox and state officials installed a new time capsule at the Utah State Capitol Wednesday that will remain in place until 2122.
The 8”x12”x16” metal box replaces a capsule from April 4, 1914, which was opened on Oct. 3, 2016 by former Gov. Gary Herbert. The contents of the 1914 time capsule are currently on display in the State Capitol Rotunda until May 31.
Gov. Cox said those that placed letters, books and other artifacts in the capsule probably could never have imagined what Utah would be like now.
“I would guess that even in their wildest imaginations,” said Cox, “they could not have foreseen the prosperity and the growth of this incredible state. What the skyline would look like a hundred years later, as they look out from these capitol steps.”
Senate President J. Stuart Adams and House Speaker Brad Wilson also addressed the 100 attendees gathered on the plaza of the south steps.
Gov. Cox said he has thought about what life in Utah will be like 100 years from now, when the time capsule is opened again. He wrote a letter, explaining some of the struggles the state is facing right now.
“I let them know that we are in the middle of a historic drought. I let them know that we’re growing so fast that it is getting so expensive to live here that it may be difficult for our children and grandchildren to buy a home in the months and years to come. And, I let them know that our nation is as divided as it has ever been in our lifetimes and that in Utah we are starting to see some of those cracks in the foundation.”
Capsule items were collected by the Governor’s Office, House of Representatives, Senate, and Capitol Preservation Board. Capitol Curator Stephanie Angelides advised the precise contents of the capsule should remain secret so as not to tip off future Utahns, but generally the box included letters and video messages from elected officials, license plates, photos from cities and towns around the state, books and newspapers, COVID memorabilia and other items that describe Utah life in 2022. State archivists sealed the contents to protect them from moisture and contaminants.
Gov. Cox said that just as our lives today have been impacted by the actions of our forebears, the decisions we make today will undoubtedly shape life in 100 years.
“We always leave Utah a better place than we found it and that is my hope for this time capsule. As future generations look back, it will be with gratitude for the decisions that were made and the sacrifices that were made by the people of Utah in the year 2022 and those sacrifices paid off in the year 2122.”
Following the remarks, the Farmington High School band played as Gov. Cox, President Adams, Speaker Wilson, Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matt Durrant, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and others climbed the Capitol steps to the cornerstone of the State Capitol. The officials then locked the time capsule and placed it into the stone of the southwest corner of the balcony.
will@cvradio.com