BICENTENNIAL TIME CAPSULE CONTENTS ON DISPLAY AT KEY WEST LIBRARY AND ONLINE

50 Years Later: Dr. Corey Malcom and 1976 May Sands School student Charlotte Sevilla at the time capsule recovery in April 2026.50 Years Later: Dr. Corey Malcom and 1976 May Sands School student Charlotte Sevilla at the time capsule recovery in April 2026.

KEY WEST, FLA - The contents from the bicentennial time capsule at May Sands School that was uncovered on April 6, 2026, 50 years after its burial, are now online and in display cases at the Monroe County Public Library Key West branch.

The capsule, created by fifth graders in 1976, included pages from newspapers and magazines, information about endangered species, photographic slides, and an audio cassette tape.

"Our exhibit satisfies the request of the May Sands students that the time capsule contents be put on display. Plus, I think people will be interested in seeing and thinking about these items that were underground and largely forgotten for 50 years," said Dr. Corey Malcom, lead historian at the library’s Florida Keys History Center. "The materials from the time capsule represent historic events – the bicentennial and the burying of the thing in the first place."

The slides did not survive 50 years in a moist underground environment, and the images are severely degraded. Surprisingly, the audio tape was in better condition. Malcom digitized the recording.

The Monroe County Public Library kept the 1976 letter with instructions from the students at the time. Preserving a piece of Florida Keys history is an essential role for the library, said Kimberly Matthews, senior director of libraries.

“Our mission is to make sure the stories and experiences of Keys residents are preserved for future generations, whether they are fifth graders or famous writers,” Matthews said. “We’re happy that now we can share the contents of the time capsule with everyone, whether they’re visiting the Key West Library branch or looking at our online collection.”

To see the contents of the time capsule online, go to keyslibraries.org/keyshistory and click on “Our Collection.” To listen to the cassette recording, go to keyslibraries.org/time-capsule-recording.

Location and hours for the Key West Library branch and the four other Florida Keys branches are available at keyslibraries.org/locations.