An 1887 time capsule believed to be encased within the concrete base of the former Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond, Virginia, is eluding discovery.
The statue of Lee, which was removed Wednesday after an extensive process through the courts, sat atop a rock pedestal. Local officials believe a time capsule is contained within the rock monument, but they have had no luck finding it.
A news article written in 1887 describes the capsule as being buried beneath the statue’s cornerstone, and X-ray scans revealed a void in this area. But when that void was reached by excavation crews on Thursday morning, it was empty.
TRUMP DECRIES REMOVAL OF ROBERT E. LEE MONUMENT
The capsule is reported to contain over 60 items of Civil War memorabilia and what could be a two-of-a-kind photograph of President Abraham Lincoln in his coffin. If found, it will be taken to Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources for examination, though the items inside will mostly have sustained water damage.
Dale Brumfield, an author and historian who has researched the history of the capsule, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the capsule might just be stored deeper within the monument. As of Thursday morning, crews had removed 3,000 pounds of rock and were continuing to look for the box.
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A new time capsule containing 39 items cataloging 2020 was interred in one of the stone blocks removed from the statue Thursday morning.
