A community project · Montclair, NJ
A community time capsule, sealed in November 2026. We're gathering contributions now.
The Project
Throughout 2026, we're collecting letters, photographs, mementos, and hand-decorated envelopes from across our town.
Throughout 2026, we'll host events at libraries, museums, schools, and community spaces — each one an invitation to add something to the capsule. On a special day in November 2026 we'll seal it and bury it in the ground at the James Howe House. In 2076, another generation of Montclairians will open it.
Inspired by Montclair's own Traveling Diary Tour — Kyra Peralte's shared diary that connected women across 30+ countries — we're turning the same impulse toward our own neighborhood, our own moment in time.
Upcoming Events
Each event focuses on a different way of contributing — designing envelopes, writing letters, sharing photographs. Drop in to one or come to them all.
More events being scheduled — including a sealing ceremony in November. Sign up to stay in the loop →
How It Works
Drop into any of our events around town this year. No registration required, though signing up helps us plan.
Decorate an envelope, write a letter, contribute a photograph or small memento. Whatever speaks to you and to the future.
In November, everything we've gathered gets sealed together. Decades later, future Montclairians will open it.
In Partnership With
We're grateful to the institutions hosting events, contributing materials, and helping us reach every corner of Montclair.
Interested in partnering with us — hosting an event, contributing materials, or spreading the word? Get in touch.
Sponsorship
Events, materials, and the ceremony that seals this all up in November are funded by the community itself. Give any amount and your name goes into the capsule alongside everyone else's — read by whoever opens it in 2076.
Give any amount — it all gets sealed in.
Become a sponsor →Stay In The Loop
Get event announcements, behind-the-scenes updates, and an invitation to the sealing ceremony in November. No spam, no shares — we'll only write when there's something worth writing about.
FAQ
Anyone with a connection to Montclair — current residents, former residents, people who work here, students, or just people who feel a tie to the town. We want the capsule to reflect the whole community.
Not at all. Each event is a different way of contributing, and you're welcome to participate in just one — or all of them, if the spirit moves you.
Everything goes into a sealed capsule that will be opened by future Montclairians. We'll keep you informed about where it's stored and the planned opening date.
The capsule will be sealed in November 2026, at our sealing ceremony in Montclair, then buried in the ground at the James Howe House. It will be held by our archival partners and opened in 2076 — fifty years from now — by whoever calls Montclair home then.
Whether you're a business, school, civic group, house of worship, or neighborhood association — if you can offer a venue, materials, or just help spread the word, we'd love to hear from you. Fill out the form and we'll follow up to talk through what makes sense.