RPI marks 200 years with a time capsule

TROY (NEWS10) — In a celebration of its bicentennial, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) turned to a decidedly low-tech tradition for its forward-thinking campus: a time capsule burial. The ceremony took place outside the Troy Building on campus, capturing a snapshot of life in 2024 for future generations to uncover.

“It’s a collection of things,” said RPI President Marty Schmidt. “There’s a book in there with letters written by the mayor, by the senators, a number of dignitaries, but also a lot of people from the RPI community.”

President Schmidt emphasized the importance of balancing reflections on RPI’s storied history with aspirations for its future. “This year we spent a lot of time reflecting on our past, but also thinking about our future. So looking at some of the amazing accomplishments of our alumni, of our faculty. So a lot of that information is captured in there.”

The university hopes the time capsule will serve as a window to 2024 when it is opened during RPI’s tricentennial celebration in 2124, allowing future community members to relive today’s vibrant campus and city life.

Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello, who contributed a letter and photograph to the capsule, shared her excitement about being part of this historic moment. “I’ve lived here my whole life, never left. I know how important RPI is to Troy, and Troy to RPI. Today is just so cool.”

Reflecting on her contribution, Mantello added, “We went through three or four drafts because I’d never say the right words. And you really think about it—our picture in that time capsule. Our picture will be looked at 100 years from now. They’re going to say, ‘My gosh, her hairstyle is terrible.’”

The capsule also includes a penny, a small nod to a potentially cashless future, much like the rotary phone has become a relic of the past.

As the ceremony concluded, attendees reflected on the legacy being sealed beneath the ground. The hope is that in 2124, the time capsule will bridge the centuries, bringing today’s Troy and RPI to life for future generations.