Sealing of the 111th Congress Time Capsule: Lincoln Reflections Preserved

July 23, 2009 will mark the preservation of this generation’s thoughts on the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. The US Capitol Historical Society has taken in reflections on Lincoln as a leader, an emancipator, and a moral paragon in a sealed capsule stored within the vault of the Library of Congress. The sealing of the time capsule will take place in the Members Room in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress.

The capsule will be opened in the year 2059 celebrating Lincoln’s 250th birthday. Works included in the box are short pieces from Members of Congress, teachers, and students of all ages from across the United States. There are even a few cultural artifacts honoring the 16th President, including postcards, books, and even hallmarks of local celebrations of his birthday.

The capsule was held in a reception in Statuary Hall located in the US Capitol on May 13, 2009 to honor the new members of the 111th Congress and to give them an opportunity to contemplate the lessons illuminated by his life. On the 23rd of July, former Congressman Ronald Sarasin, CEO of the US Capitol Historical Society, will seal the 111th Congress Time Capsule for coming generations.

The United States Capitol Historical Society (USCHS), founded in 1962 is chartered by the Congress to educate the public on the history and heritage of the US Capitol building, its institutions, and the people who have served within. It is a non-profit organization that operates on the donations of the public.