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Charters of Freedom time capsule closing on hold for now

COLUMBUS—Area residents will have to wait a little longer to see the closing of a time capsule in Columbus that will not be open for another 67 years.

What was originally planned for this Saturday, because of the pandemic and public gatherings prohibited, the time capsule opening ceremony for the Charters of Freedom has been postponed.

House of Flags Museum Curator and Columbus Town Councilman Robert Williamson, who helped organize the Charters of Freedom, announced on Tuesday that the capsule closing ceremony, planned for July 11 will be postponed until at least this fall.

“As you can imagine, the previously scheduled Charters of Freedom Time Capsule closing ceremony for 11 July 2020 has been postponed,” Williamson said. “In discussions with the Foundation Forward we have decided it best not to attempt a public gathering and wait until this fall to decide on a new date.”

Polk County Commissioners set the date for the time capsule closing earlier this year, prior to social distancing measures.

The county was gifted the Charters of Freedom by Foundation Freedom Inc. The Charters of Freedom are replicas of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence, which are located in Veterans Park in Columbus. The structures were dedicated in September 2019.

The time capsule will be open on the constitution’s 300^th anniversary, on Sept. 17, 2087.

The time capsule will contain names of donors to the Charters of Freedom; names of people who attended the dedication ceremony on Sept. 17, 2019; a photo timeline of the construction and dedication of the Charters of Freedom; names of volunteers who helped build the Charters of Freedom and letters from elected officials.