Historical museum set to unlock secrets from the past

Folks at the Skagit County Historical Museum in La Conner are looking forward to going back in time.

They’re not alone.

The ghosts of Christmas Past will make more than a mere cameo appearance before an expected large crowd attending the local museum’s Holiday Gala/Annual Appeal Kick-off event Dec. 6 from 6-8 p.m.

That’s because this year’s program, part of a series of Golden Anniversary festivities hosted by the museum, includes the much-anticipated opening of a time capsule that was embedded in one of the building’s walls in early 1969.

Museum Director Jo Wolfe is inviting the public to witness the long-awaited capsule opening and see what treasures are contained inside the 15-inch square and nearly four-inch deep metal box.

A committee was assigned in 1968 the task of collecting items for the capsule, coinciding with the launch of the museum. Much, obviously, has changed in the meantime – adding a heightened sense of suspense as to what the capsule contains.

Perhaps there’s a pocket pen holder. Maybe it will include a $1.25 movie ticket. Or any number of other pop culture gems from one of the more frequently dissected 12-month periods in U.S. history might be in the mix.

Among those most interested in what secrets the time capsule conceals are members of the Skagit County Pioneer Association.

Time Capsule Opening andntil 1969 poses a mystery of its own, says Wolfe.

“The SCPA,” says current Pioneer Association President Dan Royal, “was extremely proud to be the motivating factor in both the formation of the Skagit County Historical Society and the museum building itself that it can’t help but be proud that we have hit the 50-year mark and look forward to the opening of the time capsule.”

Why the capsule wasn’t put in place u

“We’ve not found any documentation on why the delay,” she says. “It may be they needed to wait for the creation or funding of the cornerstone. But there’s nothing written explaining it.”

The time capsule was removed earlier this year when the museum was in the midst of displaying exhibits and coordinating special events associated with its half-century mission of preserving Skagit history.

“Mike Carlisle, a local stone mason, did a great job of extricating it,” Wolfe says. “I wouldn’t say it was difficult, just a little challenging, as we had no idea how they had secured it.”

Those who miss the time capsule opening next month won’t get a do-over for another 50 years.

“We’ll be placing a new time capsule in March 2019,” says Wolfe, “as we close out our anniversary year.”