© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Johnson County buried a time capsule in 1951. Now it's finally been opened

Maurice Hubbard, master of ceremonies for the corner stone laying, on May 7, 1951. The copper box is on the right side of the table. Johnson County government officials sit on the temporary wooden stage.
Johnson County Museum
Maurice Hubbard, master of ceremonies for the corner stone laying, on May 7, 1951. The time capsule is on the right side of the table and Johnson County government officials sit on the temporary wooden stage.

“Inside the Box: A 1951 Time Capsule” runs Feb. 3-May 5 at the Johnson County Museum in Overland Park, Kansas. The exhibit explores the contents of a recently-discovered 1951 time capsule, and offers a glimpse into mid-century suburban life.

The Johnson County Museum will be opening a new exhibit called “Inside the Box: A 1951 Time Capsule," which runs from Feb. 3 - May 4, 2024.

The show explores the contents of a recently-discovered time capsule that was placed in the cornerstone of the old Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe in 1951 by local government officials.

Andrew Gustafson, the museum's curator of interpretation, says the box’s contents — including photographs, newspapers and letters — offer a glimpse into mid-century suburban life.

“One of the big themes is growth and change in the county and the post-war era,” Gustafson told KCUR’s Up To Date. “This was the era of white flight, redlining is happening in town in Kansas City and cities across the U.S., so people are moving into the county.”

Stay Connected
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As a producer for Up To Date, I create sound-rich talk show segments about the individuals and communities that call Kansas City home. Whether it’s a poet, a business owner or a local lawmaker, I seek out diverse voices to help break down the biggest stories of the day. After listening to the show, I want Up To Date listeners to feel informed and empowered to make decisions in their daily lives. You can reach me at claudiab@kcur.org
KCUR prides ourselves on bringing local journalism to the public without a paywall — ever.

Our reporting will always be free for you to read. But it's not free to produce.

As a nonprofit, we rely on your donations to keep operating and trying new things. If you value our work, consider becoming a member.