Vancouver Leaders Bury Time Capsule for 2125 Opening

Stainless steel box contains over 50 local artifacts to show future generations life in Vancouver today.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 12:04am

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The Vancouver Downtown Association buried a sealed time capsule on Friday at the corner of Main and West 13th streets. The stainless steel box will remain buried until 2125 and contains over 50 local artifacts meant to preserve a snapshot of the city's life, culture, and community in the present day.

Why it matters

The time capsule burial is part of a larger revitalization project for Vancouver's historic Main Street, which aims to make the downtown corridor safer, more accessible, and more welcoming for residents, businesses, and visitors. The capsule is designed to withstand the elements for a century, allowing future generations to glimpse into the city's past.

The details

The time capsule measures 20 inches wide, 16.2 inches tall, and 9 inches deep. It is engineered to resist corrosion and withstand extreme temperatures ranging from 250 degrees to negative 40 degrees. The Vancouver Downtown Association spent over a year collecting community submissions for the capsule, which were then placed in archival formats and secured inside the steel box with 18 bolts before being lowered into a cement vault in the ground.

  • The time capsule was buried on Friday, February 21, 2026.
  • The capsule is scheduled to be opened in 2125.

The players

Vancouver Downtown Association

The organization that organized the time capsule burial as part of the Main Street revitalization project.

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The takeaway

This time capsule project preserves a piece of Vancouver's history and culture for future generations, allowing them to glimpse into the city's past as part of the ongoing efforts to revitalize and reimagine the downtown area.