HT Radio #285

This week we discuss; the opening of the Ark of the Covenant?, more on the mysterious creature in a South Carolina sewer, the land of mermaids, a creepy El Salvadorian tale, the Crypt of Civilization and much more more. You can listen with the player below.

Atlanta, GA - Crypt of Civilization

Thornwell Jacobs decided to make one of the first modern era "time capsules" in the early 1930s. He was inspired by the recent openings of the Egyptian pyramids in the 1920s. So he gathered up a bunch of stuff sealed them up and now they sit waiting 6000 years to be opened.

The date of their opening will be 8113 CE. I believe that's like Star Trek-era time periods. This date was determined by the time that had passed from the creation of the capsule to the first record of human civilization. (4241 BC). That time, 6177 years, was added to the current date to determine when to open the capsule.

So there is a long wait still ahead. The crypt is about 20 feet long and 10 feet high and sealed air-tight. It contains audio recordings, films, books and even a "negro" doll and a Budweiser. To remind a future generation or alien being of our racism and drunkeness.

Over the years, the Crypt was big news and constantly in the press with marketing pushes, However, since the 1970s the buzz on the time capsule has died down significantly. It is housed in the basement of Phoebe Hearst Hall at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. I guess we'll just have to wait 6000 years to see if anyone remembers to open it.