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US founding fathers’ time capsule opened

AAP

AAP

A time capsule originally placed under a cornerstone of Boston’s Massachusetts State House in 1795 by Samuel Adams and Paul Revere has been opened at the city’s Museum of Fine Arts.

Dubbed the oldest time capsule in America, it was last unearthed in 1855 when its contents were documented and cleaned.

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Additional items were added more than a century and a half ago, before it was plastered into the underside of a massive granite cornerstone.

The capsule, a bit smaller than a cigar box, together with miscellaneous coins and newspapers, was again removed last month, weighed and x-rayed.

It was uncovered during repairs for a water leak at the State House.

Conservators from Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts opened the time capsule at a press conference on Tuesday, revealing silver and copper coins dating from 1652 and 1855, an engraved silver plate, a copper medal depicting George Washington, newspapers, cards, the seal of the commonwealth, and a title page from the Massachusetts colony records.

Samuel Adams was one of the founding fathers of the United States, as well as being the governor of Massachusetts and a renown brewer.

Paul Revere, an American revolutionary war hero, was known for metalsmithing, engraving and overlaying the entire dome of the state house with copper.

The laying of the time capsule was a custom of the time thought to bring good luck.

It will be placed back into the cornerstone of the Boston building once the repairs are complete.

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