City of Pocatello Seeks Contributions to 50-Year Time Capsule

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Pocatello is excited to seal its 50-year time capsule at the end of the month and is looking for community members to donate items to City Hall that represent life in 2026.

Rick Cheatum, chairman of the America250 Ad Hoc Committee and the original author of the time capsule idea, said the project has been in the works for a long time. The Legislature appropriated $250,000 to be distributed to local jurisdictions and departments throughout the state to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary this year. Cheatum explained that local governmental entities could apply for grants to fund community projects and events.

"I saw a time capsule opened in Power County a couple of years ago, and the contents kind of captivated me and made me think maybe something like that would be appropriate," Cheatum said.

Pocatello and the southeast Idaho region have changed significantly in everything from development to jobs and technology over the past 50 years. Cheatum approached Mayor Brian Blad last summer with the idea of creating a time capsule to be opened in 50 years, commemorating life during the country's 250th anniversary year.

On July 3, the Marshall Public Library will host a celebration of the time capsule at 5 p.m. Mayor Brian Blad will give remarks, and attendees can enjoy refreshments while viewing the final items selected for inclusion.

"We're asking people to bring what they might have that they think would be interesting and unique that provides a snapshot of the history in Pocatello, where we are today that people 50 years from today might find interesting," Cheatum said.

There is a collection box at City Hall where community members can drop off items for consideration. Residents are asked to include their name and contact information with any submission in case organizers need to return the item or request additional information.

"We can't take large, bulky things," Cheatum explained. "We can take some small memorabilia and statements of things like civic clubs and social organizations and governmental entities to put in there."

So far, the city has collected newspapers, a magazine about the 125th anniversary of Idaho State University and several other documents. In addition to governmental records and historical documents, the city will accept items that represent everyday life in 2026.

The time capsule will be built by Partner Steel and donated to store the items for the next 50 years. Cheatum said organizers originally planned to bury the capsule but decided instead to house it at the Marshall Public Library.

"We are concerned about potential damage to things contained within the time capsule, if fertilizer or water or something happens to be where it's buried," he said. "It was our original idea, but we're going to store it inside the Marshall Public Library that's been here since 1909, and I am sure it will be here in another 50 years."

The library plans to create a historical display around the time capsule highlighting the history of Pocatello. The key will be stored in a separate location so no one is tempted to open it before the 50-year mark.

When asked who might open the time capsule in 50 years, Cheatum said that decision will be left to future local leaders.

"It's a decision we have to leave to local government to decide at the time when this comes up," he said. "I hope they have a similar celebration around the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration and I would hope it's someone like the mayor of Pocatello or the president of the City Council."

At the July 3 celebration, local committee member Michael Steele will perform an original song capturing the spirit of Pocatello and the Portneuf Valley. The box will be sealed by that date, so attendees will be able to view photos of the selected items.

The committee has also worked to ensure the contents remain in good condition for decades.

"There's a problem with paper having an acid content and actually deteriorating and off-gassing things that will cause further deterioration of other documents," Cheatum said. "So, we're planning to put everything in a special polyethylene envelope, sealing them up. We'll oxygen purge the time capsule when it's sealed so we get as much oxygen out of there as possible so it can't contaminate the documents and just hope that in 50 years we've done a good job."

Cheatum said preserving local history is important to both him and the committee. He said it is important to accurately represent the community in the time capsule so future generations do not forget it.

"I think the things that we're preserving as a record of what we were, where we are today and who we are as a people are important."