Baltimore looms large in the formative years of the United States. Time capsules from 1815 and 1915 were recently discovered in the city's Washington Monument, and they provide a fascinating look at how people in earlier times viewed U.S. history. Shown here is the cornerstone's inner marble lid. Click through the gallery to see items from both 1815 and 1915:
1815: Inner marble lid —
Baltimore looms large in the formative years of the United States. Time capsules from 1815 and 1915 were recently discovered in the city's Washington Monument, and they provide a fascinating look at how people in earlier times viewed U.S. history. Shown here is the cornerstone's inner marble lid. Click through the gallery to see items from both 1815 and 1915:
Courtesy of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy
This is the commemorative brass plate from the cornerstone. The monument's original 1815 cornerstone was found in February of this year.
1815: Commemorative brass plate —
This is the commemorative brass plate from the cornerstone. The monument's original 1815 cornerstone was found in February of this year.
Courtesy of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy
The cornerstone contained three jars chock full of history. This what the contents from Jar No. 1 looked like before being unpacked. "The artifacts contained in the cornerstone are incredible finds and reveal much about what the Washington Monument represented to those who erected it 200 years ago," said Lance Humphries of the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy.
1815: Jar No. 1 —
The cornerstone contained three jars chock full of history. This what the contents from Jar No. 1 looked like before being unpacked. "The artifacts contained in the cornerstone are incredible finds and reveal much about what the Washington Monument represented to those who erected it 200 years ago," said Lance Humphries of the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy.
Courtesy of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy
Folks from 1815 apparently had change to spare. Jar No. 1 held a Gold Eagle ($10), Half Eagle ($5) and Quarter Eagle ($2.50).
1815: Coins from Jar No. 1 —
Folks from 1815 apparently had change to spare. Jar No. 1 held a Gold Eagle ($10), Half Eagle ($5) and Quarter Eagle ($2.50).
Courtesy of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy
George Washington's presidential farewell address is shown as it was found in its wrapper labeled "Washington's Legacy." Baltimore's monument was the first to honor George Washington.
1815: Presidential farewell in Jar No. 1 —
George Washington's presidential farewell address is shown as it was found in its wrapper labeled "Washington's Legacy." Baltimore's monument was the first to honor George Washington.
Courtesy of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy
Military heroism loomed large then. Here are Washington and Duke of Wellington medals retrieved from Jar No. 1. The Wellington medal shows that the new nation kept an eye on what was going on in Europe.
1815: Medals of honor from Jar No. 1 —
Military heroism loomed large then. Here are Washington and Duke of Wellington medals retrieved from Jar No. 1. The Wellington medal shows that the new nation kept an eye on what was going on in Europe.
Courtesy of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy
Jar No. 2 contained a copy of one of America's most precious documents -- the Declaration of Independence. By 1815, the history-changing declaration was almost 40 years old.
1815: Jar No. 2 —
Jar No. 2 contained a copy of one of America's most precious documents -- the Declaration of Independence. By 1815, the history-changing declaration was almost 40 years old.
Courtesy of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy
No Twitter for the citizenry of the 19th century -- they got their news from newspapers, which they thought people from future generations might wish to read.
1815: Jar No. 3 —
No Twitter for the citizenry of the 19th century -- they got their news from newspapers, which they thought people from future generations might wish to read.
Courtesy of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy
A century had passed since the first set of items were placed in the cornerstone, but items revealed on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, show that the pride of independence still mattered to Baltimore denizens when selecting materials for the 1915 time capsule.
1915: Early photo of the Declaration of Independence —
A century had passed since the first set of items were placed in the cornerstone, but items revealed on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, show that the pride of independence still mattered to Baltimore denizens when selecting materials for the 1915 time capsule.
Courtesy of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy
This commemorative medallion was one of the items revealed during the opening of the 1915 time capsule at the Walters Art Museum.
1915: Star-Spangled medallion —
This commemorative medallion was one of the items revealed during the opening of the 1915 time capsule at the Walters Art Museum.
Courtesy of Mount Vernon Place Conservancy