Pictures: City of Orlando opens 1976 time capsule ahead of America’s 250th celebration

RETRO REVEAL — Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer notices the 305 area code for an Orlando phone book from 1976 during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. From left, City of Orlando’s Tara Russakov; Matt Kelly, Orlando Kiwanis Club; commissioners Tony Ortiz and Shan Rose. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Commissioners and guests watch during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall, Monday, June 29, 2026. The time vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis Club of Orlando during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs, Central Florida memorabilia and a letter from the 1976 president of the Kiwanis. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — Orlando city commissioner Shan Rose pulls out a 1976 plaque —with Mayor Buddy Dyer, right, and commissioner Tony Ortiz, during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — Some of the memorabilia unveiled during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — Kiwanis Club of Orlando president Matt Kelly reads a letter from 1976 as Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer, second from right, and city commissioners, from left, Tony Ortiz, Shan Rose and Tom Keen listen during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

The 50-year-old time vault at Orlando City Hall that opened in a ceremony with city leaders and guests, Monday, June 29, 2026. The time vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis Club of Orlando during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs, Central Florida memorabilia and a letter from the 1976 president of the Kiwanis. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer watches as commissioner Bakari Burns, left, retrieves a jar of 1976 cassette tapes from time vault at city hall, Monday, June 29, 2026. The 50-year-old time vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis Club of Orlando during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs, Central Florida memorabilia and a letter from the 1976 president of the Kiwanis. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Orlando commissioner Bakari Burns reveals a 1976 T-shirt from the time vault opened at city hall, Monday, June 29, 2026. The 50-year-old vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis Club of Orlando during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. From left, commissioners Burns, Tony Ortiz, Shan Rose, Tom Keen and Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer., (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — The City of Orlando’s Tara Russakov holds up a 1976 copy of the Orlando Sentinel during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Items from 1976 on display after the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — Some of the memorabilia unveiled during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — Some of the memorabilia unveiled during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — Some of the memorabilia unveiled during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

The City of Orlando’s Tara Russakov retrieves an item during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. From left, Matt Kelly, Orlando Kiwanis Club; Russakov; commissioners Bakari Burns, Tony Ortiz, Shan Rose, Tom Keen and Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — Some of the memorabilia unveiled during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — The City of Orlando’s Tara Russakov holds up a 1976 copy of the Orlando Sentinel during the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall —ahead of America’s 250th celebration— Monday, June 29, 2026. The vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs and Central Florida memorabilia.(Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

RETRO REVEAL — Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer delivers remarks during a ceremony with commissioners and guests for the opening of a 50-year-old time vault at city hall, Monday, June 29, 2026. The time vault was sealed and buried at Lake Eola by the Kiwanis Club of Orlando during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The vault revealed a preserved collection of newspapers, photographs, Central Florida memorabilia and a letter from the 1976 president of the Kiwanis. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)