Determining the Destinations
Strategic Site Selection
Our team carefully selects countries that align with the project’s values, focusing on cultural and historical significance. To date, nine countries have been chosen, with discussions ongoing for a tenth to complete our global scope.
Securing Land: We secure land for our time capsules primarily through two methods:
Gifted Land: Preferred land is typically donated by educational institutions or government bodies. In instances where corporate entities are involved, the land is held in trust with associated educational or research institutes, ensuring that the use of the capsule’s contents remains focused on educational and research purposes after 100 years, excluding content stored within TimeVaults under special instructions.
Purchased Land: When donation is not feasible, land is acquired through funds pooled from various supportive institutions. These contributors gain access to the capsule’s contents for educational and research purposes once public access is permitted after a century.
Building the Capsules: Construction begins only when specific conditions are met: securement of the land, availability of necessary funds, and achievement of the contribution cap for each capsule. This multi-faceted approach ensures each capsule is built in a location suited for its long-term preservation and is supported by adequate resources.
Special Considerations for TimeVaults: About 10% of each capsule is designated as TimeVaults, which are available for purchase, allowing individuals or organizations to secure a private space for personalized legacies. These areas are tailored for exclusive preservation and can remain private based on the buyer’s instructions.
Future Expansion: The project remains open to adding more locations as the global interest and participation expand. This flexibility ensures that our reach can adapt to include new communities and preservation opportunities as they arise.
Community and Global Involvement: Though strategic decisions about locations and construction are initially made at the organizational level, we emphasize the importance of community and global participation. Engaging a broad spectrum of communities ensures that the capsules reflect the rich diversity of human experiences globally.
This detailed approach to selecting and preparing capsule sites underscores our commitment to not only preserving the past but also embracing and celebrating the diversity of human experiences. Through meticulous planning and collaborative efforts, The Time Capsule Project aims to connect generations and safeguard our collective heritage.
Diverse Selection Reflecting Global Heritage
Selection Criteria
The Time Capsule Project employs a detailed selection process to ensure that each location reflects the diverse tapestry of our global heritage. This process is guided by several key criteria that help determine the most suitable sites for our capsules.
Key Criteria for Selection:
- Political Stability and Safety: We select locations known for their stability and safety to ensure the capsules’ long-term security and preservation.
- Cultural and Historical Significance: Chosen locations are rich in cultural history, which adds depth and value to the contents of the capsules.
- Geographical Diversity: We aim for a global spread, choosing locations across different continents and climate zones to represent the Earth’s vast diversity.
- Accessibility and Legal Considerations: Sites are evaluated based on ease of access and robust legal frameworks that support the project’s needs and ensure its protection.
- Linguistic Variety: Areas with diverse languages are preferred to encapsulate the wide range of human communication and culture.
- Unique Regional Features: Some locations are selected for their unique cultural attributes that stand out globally.
- Freedom of Expression: We only consider locations where the freedom of speech index is at least 0.50, ensuring a favorable environment for sharing and protecting ideas.
Our aim is to balance our selections to showcase the rich geographical, cultural, linguistic, and historical diversity of our planet. This careful selection process ensures the project resonates with a broad spectrum of global communities, celebrating both our unique differences and our shared experiences.
A Tapestry of Global Heritage
Selected Cities
We’ve selected cities from ten countries to host our time capsules. Each city is a hub of culture and history, contributing uniquely to our global narrative.
- New York City, USA: A melting pot of cultures, impacting the world with its diverse experiences.
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Known for its vibrant festivities and rich traditions.
- London, UK: A historic city that bridges the past with the present.
- Barcelona, Spain: Famous for its architectural beauty and rich cultural tapestry.
- Johannesburg, South Africa: A symbol of resilience and cultural diversity.
- Mumbai, India: Rich in traditions and languages, Mumbai adds depth to our global story.
- Sydney, Australia: Where ancient traditions meet modern life.
- Tokyo, Japan: A city where tradition meets futuristic technology.
- Seoul, South Korea: Reflects rapid progress and strong cultural roots.
- Helsinki, Finland: Known for its stunning nature and innovative spirit.
Each chosen city enhances the tapestry of stories we preserve, ensuring a rich, diverse legacy for future generations.
Strategic Deployment Across the Decade
Project Strategy
The Time Capsule Project aims to create a global narrative by embedding 10 time capsules in 10 distinct countries, each carefully chosen for its unique cultural and historical value. This endeavor is not just about geographic diversity but also about timing and strategic engagement over several years.
Phased Installations: To manage resources effectively and ensure each capsule captures the essence of its era, installations are spaced out over a span of two to three years between each capsule. This phased approach allows for detailed planning and mobilization of the necessary support in each location, ensuring that every capsule is a focal point of international heritage when it is sealed.
Focused Resource Allocation: From the outset, our strategy has been to focus efforts and resources on predetermined countries. This focus helps in laying the groundwork for future capsules, securing collaborations, and commencing the collection of contributions early—even for capsules that will be installed later in the project timeline.
Handling Early Contributions: Contributions for capsules that are scheduled for installation years into the future are accepted and preserved from now. For example, if a contributor wishes to have their input placed in a capsule in South Korea, which might be scheduled for installation eight years from now, we accept and safely store these contributions. This ensures that when the time comes, the capsule will be enriched with a diverse array of insights and experiences, reflecting the true scope of global human narratives at the time of its burial.
Why Early Selection Matters: Choosing all ten countries at the project’s inception allows us to strategically plan each capsule’s theme and content, aligning them with both current and future cultural and societal trends. It also facilitates the initiation of partnerships and logistical arrangements in each selected country well ahead of the capsule’s scheduled burial, ensuring smooth execution and impactful engagement across global communities.
This strategic approach underscores our commitment to a meticulously planned and executed timeline, guaranteeing that each time capsule, from its conception to its sealing, is a testament to the era and the global community it represents.
Current Initiatives and Future Timelines
Current Progress
Focused Efforts on Key Locations
Our efforts primarily focus on advancing the Time Capsule installations in three strategically important locations: the USA, the UK, and Spain. These locations were selected based on robust proposals, high engagement levels, and their pivotal roles in our project’s global framework.
Preliminary Site Selection Stages
While we were initially in the preliminary stages of site selection, we have now confirmed the specific locations in these countries, reflecting our commitment and the serious interest of local communities.
Detailed Location Updates
- United States: Following advanced discussions, we have confirmed New York City as the location for our time capsule. The exact address for this installation will be announced by August this year. We are targeting the sealing of the capsule in late 2025.
- United Kingdom: London has been selected due to its historical significance and cultural richness. With strong community participation and funding, the site has been finalized, and we anticipate sealing the capsule in mid-2026.
- Spain: Barcelona has been chosen after careful consideration of several strong proposals. We plan to seal the capsule in early 2027.
Additional Global Installations Scheduled
Our project’s reach will extend across multiple continents, with timelines set for additional capsule installations:
- Brazil: Sealing in early 2028
- Australia: Sealing in late 2028
- India: Sealing in mid-2029
- South Korea: Sealing in mid-2029
- Japan: Sealing in mid-2030
- South Africa: Sealing in early 2030
- Finland: Sealing in mid-2031
Commitment to Transparency
We remain committed to keeping all stakeholders informed as we progress. Regular updates on the development of these projects will ensure transparency as we prepare for these significant undertakings in each region.