Lost and found: Time capsule on display

The idea of a time capsule started in 1973, while the new Custer County Courthouse was being built next to Way Park.
The Custer County Historical Society proposed to the county commissioners that a cornerstone vault be buried under the patio at the entrance to the building during the Centennial year (1974) of the Custer Expedition into the Black Hills. The purpose of the project was to preserve the history of Custer City and Custer County and pass it on to future generations. 
The historical society canvassed the community for items and information to place in the time capsule, such as information about organizations and civic groups, churches, schools  and businesses, as well as newspapers, photos, minerals and coins. The intention was for the time capsule to be opened in about 100 years—either during the Bicentennial of the Custer Expedition (2074), or the Bicentennial of Custer City’s establishment (2075) or during the nation’s Tricentennial celebration (2076).
In early June 1974, a hole was dug in the southeast corner of the front door patio of the County Courthouse, a concrete box weighing 125 pounds was placed in the hole, and a specially-constructed copper box was placed in the concrete box. A dedication ceremony was held June 3, 1974.
In December 1985, the historical society discussed placing a plaque in the county courthouse explaining the time capsule to ensure it would not be forgotten, but it was never done. The courthouse underwent an extensive renovation and expansion project from June 2010 to December 2011.
In the course of the construction, members of the historical society witnessed the digging up of the time capsule Nov. 8, 2010. It was not opened. The head of the county planning office was asked to care for the time capsule until it could again be placed in courthouse grounds, but it was never reburied.
In June 2026, the time capsule was “found” sitting on a shelf in the planning office. In order that this time capsule is not forgotten over the next 50 years, it has been put on display in this public area of the courthouse so that Custer County residents learn about it and educate their children and grandchildren about it.