Colorado unearths 1907 time capsule beneath civil war statue
Colorado historians unearthed a sealed time capsule from 1907 beneath the pedestal of a Civil War monument at the Colorado State Capitol, revealing a glimpse into the past just as the state celebrates its 150th anniversary.
Contents offer historical insights, sparking debate over legacy
The discovery, made during the removal of the statue of John Dare Howland – erected in 1909 to honor Colorado soldiers who fought for the Union Army – includes newspapers, legislative acts, and a letter from those involved in the monument's installation. The statue itself was toppled in 2020 during a Black Lives Matter protest and is now on display at the History Colorado Center, slated for relocation to the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.
A CT scan confirmed the presence of the tin box, hidden beneath the pedestal for over a century. Inside, researchers found copies of publications like The Denver Post, The Denver Republican, The Denver Times, and The Rocky Mountain News, alongside the legislative documents that authorized the monument’s construction. The letter from the installation team offers invaluable context, potentially shedding light on the motivations and perspectives of the era.
“It’s amazing to see,” said Governor Jared Polis during the capsule’s opening. “To celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary and learn about our History from 117 years ago…we’re going to learn a lot about the time and the statue.”
The unearthed artifacts present a complex historical narrative, particularly given the controversial legacy of the Civil War era in Colorado. While Colorado troops played a role in preventing Confederate control of western gold fields, they also participated in the forced displacement of Indigenous populations, including the Sand Creek Massacre, a fact acknowledged on the statue’s pedestal, despite initial attempts to downplay its significance.
History Colorado hopes the time capsule will stimulate public interest in the state’s History and its involvement in the Civil War, prompting a deeper examination of its multifaceted past. The contents offer a tangible link to a pivotal moment in Colorado’s History, and a reminder that historical narratives are rarely simple.