LA Central Library Opens Time Capsule Exhibit
The Los Angeles Central Library has unveiled a new exhibit featuring the contents of a recently opened time capsule. The display offers visitors a tangible link to the city's civic and cultural history. It is expected to draw interest from those focused on urban history and the evolution of LA's public institutions.
- The copper time capsule from 1925 was discovered to contain a second, even older sealed box from 1881. This earlier capsule was from the cornerstone of the California State Normal School, a predecessor to UCLA, which was previously located on the library's site. - The opening is part of the Central Library's year-long centennial celebration, as the Bertram Goodhue-designed building was completed in 1926. The time capsule itself was placed in the cornerstone on May 3, 1925. - Retrieving the capsule was a complex year-long project, as no instructions were left for its removal. A team ultimately had to enter through a wall in a men's restroom to safely extract the soldered copper box without damaging the historic building's exterior. - Contents from the 1881 capsule include a Los Angeles population card showing just 11,183 residents, mementos from President James Garfield's funeral, and newspapers in English, Spanish, French, and German. - Items sealed in the 1925 capsule feature a scrapbook of the library's previous temporary locations, a typed list of every library employee including janitors, and various city department annual reports. - A selection of items from the capsules will be on display for the public throughout 2026. The remaining contents will be housed in the library's special collections and can be viewed by appointment. - The library plans to create a new centennial time capsule to be sealed in 2026, and the year-long "Central 100" celebration will include special programs at the downtown location and neighborhood branches.
