What items would you put in a time capsule? Johnson County is planning its own time capsule to be opened decades from now, and we encourage your suggestions on items included.

Some possible ideas include pictures, letters, newspapers, magazines or even COVID-19 signage. Using this online form, please include suggestions of no more than three items to put in the new time capsule, and briefly explain the reasoning behind them.

You can also mail your suggestions to:

The Best Times
Attention: Time Capsule
111 South Cherry St.
Olathe, KS 66061

Plans for the time capsule and when it’s opened are still in the works. The size of the container is yet to be determined, but it’s likely to be displayed publicly rather than be buried.

The new time capsule is part of the second phase of enhancements to the Johnson County Square in downtown Olathe. A new Memorial Plaza will commemorate the opening of the new courthouse at the start of 2021 and dedication of the redesigned Johnson County Square in 2022.

The plaza will be located near the Children of the Trails Fountain at the southern end of the square near the Administration Building. Work is slated to start by the end of this year and be completed and dedicated in 2023.

This new time capsule will follow the recent discovery of a 71-year-old time capsule during demolition of the old Courthouse building. It was stored in a wall cavity in 1951 and included items such as microfilm, envelopes, event programs and more.