Time capsule left by Paul Revere and Samual Adams to be opened

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The contents of a time capsule left by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams two key figures in the American War of Independence were to be put on public view on Tuesday night.


It was retrieved last month by workers repairing a water leak at the State House in Boston, which has been the seat of Massachusetts government since 1798.


According to historians the time capsule was placed three years earlier in the cornerstone of building during construction.

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The original time capsule was contained in a cowhide container, which was excavated in 1855 with the contents being reburied in a brass box that laid undisturbed until it was rediscovered last month.

"We had a water infiltration problem,: said Michael Comeau, executive director of the Massachusetts state archive.

"We were aware that it was there and located it with underground radar."

Using radar to find the box was one thing, excavating it safely was another and it took a dozen workers and more than seven hours to extricate it.

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Following its discovery last month the container was x-rayed and found to be containing a collection of silver and gold coins dating as far back as 1652, a copper medal depicting George Washington, and newspapers and papers.

Initially it was x-rayed, which gave further information about its contents, but the full scope of what was inside only emerged after the container was opened.

Even the simple task of unlocking the container has been challenging according to Mr Comeau.

"It was soldered together, although there were some screws which we have loosened."

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