Crypt Of Civilization: America's Time Capsule That's Closed Til 8113

Yes, this meant Hitler and Stalin.

The Crypt also contained microfilm readers and other media players for the preserved artifacts. Seeing as the Crypt of Civilization was based around the English language, it likely would be incomprehensible to someone from 8113 if they managed to find and open it. Because of this, a tool called the Language Integrator was included, which was intended to teach someone English.

The stainless steel door to the Crypt of Civilization was closed on May 28, 1940. It was a popular topic at the time, and the Guinness Book of World Records called it the first attempt to preserve civilization like this. The hype surrounding the Crypt died quickly, though. WWII initially made it more appealing, as the idea of preserving knowledge in the event of catastrophe seemed more relevant than ever. However, once the atomic bomb was created, the consensus was that even if the Crypt somehow survived, no human would be around to open it.

Oh, and then there’s another big issue. If you want to be happy while conducting historical research, a good rule is to stop whenever you think that everything seems to be going okay. When you keep going, you might, for example, discover that the inventor of the Crypt of Civilization was a Confederate-sympathizer antisemite.

Yes, reading Thornwell Jacobs’ memoirs gives a look into the mind of a man who was vocally opposed to Abraham Lincoln and the emancipation of slaves in the United States. He also believed in antisemitic conspiracies that Jews were secretly controlling the government. So while the Crypt of Civilization may have been a completely innocent attempt at preserving the world, it might also be best if that stainless steel door remains shut forever.

Top Image: Distinguished Reflections/Wiki Commons