The self-proclaimed Fourth of July town has revealed part of a 50-year-old mystery. Independence Day in Seward, Nebraska, went back in time when they opened the pyramid that holds the world’s largest time capsule. “We’re opening the pyramids this year, the pyramid this year because we couldn’t figure out how to open the capsule with the pyramid on top,” Trish Johnson said. It was the brainchild of Trish’s father, Harold Davisson. In 1975, the owner of a local furniture store decided to build a 45-ton vault in the ground, sealed with a brand-new Chevy Vega, a motorcycle and other treasures inside. “All the good stuff is in the time capsule down there,” Trish said. Davisson, who died in 1999, left instructions saying it should be opened on the 50th anniversary, July 4, 2025. The problem is, the pyramid was added in 1983. “By putting a pyramid on top, it preserved what was underneath it,” Trish said. The pyramid also held the largest time capsule title, but getting inside was harder than expected. “It took them six hours to cut through it,” Trish said. A 4-ton slab and layers of braided insulation revealed a beat-up Toyota Corolla and many other memorabilia. “We had water damage, we had heat damage. But we have a table full of letters for people to come find and retrieve,” she said. Inside the pyramid were painted murals, even some of Trish’s daughters, who were just toddlers. “We all prepared for all the murals to be gone. So to see any part of them intact was really cool,” Kathryn Johnson said. They haven’t yet figured out how they’ll get into the main vault for next year’s big event. “We’re calling this our dress rehearsal, and we really thought we needed one. The mystery continues,” Trish said. Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
The self-proclaimed Fourth of July City has revealed part of a 50-year-old mystery.
Independence Day in Seward, Nebraska took us back in time as they opened the pyramid that houses the world’s largest time capsule.
“We’re opening the pyramids this year, the pyramid this year because we can’t figure out how to open the capsule with the pyramid on top,” Trish Johnson said.
It was the idea of Trish’s father, Harold Davisson.
In 1975, a local furniture store owner decided to build a 45-ton vault in the ground, sealed with a brand-new Chevy Vega, a motorcycle, and other treasures inside.
“All the good stuff is in the time capsule down there,” Trish said.
Davisson, who died in 1999, left instructions saying the site should open on the 50th anniversary, July 4, 2025.
The problem is that the pyramid was added in 1983.
“By putting a pyramid on top, she preserved what was below it,” Trish said.
The pyramid also held the title of greatest time capsule, but getting inside was more difficult than expected.
“It took them six hours to cut this,” Trish said.
A 4-ton slab and interlocking layers of insulation revealed an old Toyota Corolla and many other memorabilia.
“We had water damage, we had heat damage. But we have a table full of letters for people to come find and recover,” she said.
Inside the pyramid were painted murals, some even of Trish’s daughters, who were just children.
“We all braced ourselves for the murals to be almost completely destroyed. So to see any part of them intact was pretty cool,” said Kathryn Johnson.
They still haven’t figured out how they’ll get into the main vault for next year’s big event.
“We’re calling this our dress rehearsal, and we really felt like we needed one. The mystery remains,” Trish said.
Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
