Everett 10-year-old helps share 2014 with future generations

Imagine sending a message to the future. If you think that’s something only for sci-fi, you’re wrong.

Science-fiction writer Greg Bear, who lives near Lynnwood, is keen on sharing our world with people living 375 years from now in this place we call Washington. It’s not a plot from one of his books, though. It’s real.

If all goes as planned — a big if — you can send your own message, and future folks will read it on microfilm for the 500th anniversary of statehood. That will be in the mind-blowing year 2389.

Bear is one of the organizers of the state’s Centennial Time Capsule, a project of the Washington Centennial Commission. Along with Seattle writer Knute “Skip” Berger, Bear was involved 25 years ago with creating a concept that’s more than a container filled with things.

“It’s the only time capsule of its type in the world,” said Bear, a prolific author whose “Darwin’s Radio” won a Nebula Award. “It’s a living time capsule that relies on the passage of information from one generation to another.”

That’s why 10-year-olds from all over the state are in on the project. They’re called Keepers of the Capsule. More than 100 strong, they include an Everett girl.

Elisabeth “Bette” Olney, a fourth-grader at Everett’s Emerson Elementary School, signed on to be a Capsule Keeper after reading about it in The Herald. Earlier this year, she launched a coin drive for people affected by the Oso mudslide.

On Nov. 11, the state’s 125th birthday, Bette and about 100 other kids were in Olympia for a ceremony with Secretary of State Kim Wyman that included a “Keeper Oath.” Original keepers were also there.

Erica Gordon, 35, was a 10-year-old keeper in 1989. She learned about the program in her Spokane Camp Fire group. The Seattle woman is now recruitment director for Capsule Keepers.

In Olympia, Bette got an up-close look at the Centennial Time Capsule. It’s a 3,000-pound green safe visible to the public at the south entrance of the Capitol building. Inside are 16 separate stainless-steel time capsules, one to be filled every 25 years.

“The one for 2014, all the keepers held it,” Bette said. “It was really, really fun. We got to see the Capitol and met the governor.”

Bear, 63, said it was Berger’s idea to have a capsule “not sealed away forever but part of the community every 25 years,” and to involve children in passing the project along, one generation to the next.

Berger writes for the Crosscut website under the moniker “Mossback,” and is editor-at-large and a columnist for Seattle magazine. Through research, Berger learned that time capsules often disappear. “Maybe instead of burying it, put it in plain sight,” he said.

The project is overseen by the Secretary of State’s office. Berger said a nonprofit group was created to fund it. A donation of $3,000 from U.S. West Inc. got the project started, he said.

In early 1990, Berger, now 60, and Bear went to Hanford, where the first capsule was sealed. It’s filled with argon gas, which is chemically inert and meant to protect the contents.

And those contents? People from all over Washington are asked to send “Messages to the Future.” Those will be put on microfilm and a flash-drive device. The 2014 capsule will be sealed at a ceremony in Olympia on Feb. 22, George Washington’s birthday.

It will contain an Amazon Kindle loaded with books by Washington authors, and some written about the state. Astrid Bear, Greg Bear’s wife, is seeking publisher permission. Among the books will be works by three poets who have been recognized as Washington Poet Laureate. Also included is “The Boys in the Boat,” Daniel James Brown’s true story of the University of Washington crew team that won at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. There will be native plant seeds and glass art.

Berger has no idea if anyone will know what a Kindle is in 2389. “For all I know, they’ll think it’s a ceiling tile,” he said. Astrid Bear said there will be clear instructions.

When the big green safe was opened this month, the sealed 1989 capsule was kept closed. But there was a gift box for the 35-year-old keepers. It contained bottles of wine from Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery.

Berger remembers poignant messages contained in the 1989 capsule. “We had thousands,” he said. “Some write apologies. Some write their life stories.”

Ozone and oat bran were buzzwords back then, and the CD-ROM was hot technology.

The 1989 capsule has a fun message from author Tom Robbins, “riffing on why he thought ‘Louie Louie’ should be the state song,” Berger recalled. There was a message from a man saying he was a participant in one of the first AIDS vaccine studies.

Berger loved a message from a kid who wrote: “My favorite band is Metallica, which I’m sure you will consider to be classical by now.”

A message to the future is one tough assignment. Bette managed to write one for the 2014 capsule. “I hope there will still be trees left, and clean air,” the 10-year-old said.

If you want to add yours, Berger has a suggestion. “Write what’s in your heart. Tell your story,” he said.

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Messages to future

The state Centennial Time Capsule project seeks “Messages to the Future” to be sealed in the 2014 capsule. The plan is to open it in 2389, the 500th anniversary of statehood. Deadline is Jan. 1.

Send messages via email to: message2389@sos.wa.gov

Or print and send this form: www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/archives/FINALMessagesPrint.pdf

Information: www.capsulekeepers.org/home.php

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Contributed photo from Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works contractor crews have begun their summer 2016 paving work on 13 miles of roadway, primarily in the Monroe and Stanwood areas. This photo is an example of paving work from a previous summer. A new layer of asphalt is put down over the old.
Snohomish County plans to resurface about 76 miles of roads this summer

EVERETT – As part of its annual road maintenance and preservation program,… Continue reading

City of Everett Engineer Tom Hood, left, and City of Everett Engineer and Project Manager Dan Enrico, right, talks about the current Edgewater Bridge demolition on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How do you get rid of a bridge? Everett engineers can explain.

Workers began dismantling the old Edgewater Bridge on May 2. The process could take one to two months, city engineers said.

Smoke from the Bolt Creek fire silhouettes a mountain ridge and trees just outside of Index on Sept. 12, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County will host two wildfire-preparedness meetings in May

Meetings will allow community members to learn wildfire mitigation strategies and connect with a variety of local and state agencies.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Vehicles travel along Mukilteo Speedway on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo cameras go live to curb speeding on Speedway

Starting Friday, an automated traffic camera system will cover four blocks of Mukilteo Speedway. A 30-day warning period is in place.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Here’s who filed for the primary election in Snohomish County

Positions with three or more candidates will go to voters Aug. 5 to determine final contenders for the Nov. 4 general election.

Steven M. Falk / The Philadelphia Inquirer / Tribune News Service
James Taylor plays Sunday and Monday at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville.
A&E Calendar for May 22

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Members of Washington State patrol salute the casket of slain trooper Chris Gadd during a memorial cremony on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Opening statements begin in trial of man charged in crash of WSP trooper

Deputy prosecutor described to jurors what began as a routine patrol for Christopher Gadd — “until it wasn’t.”

Aaron Weinstock uses an x-ray machine toy inside the Imagine Children Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Imagine Children’s Museum $250k grant reinstated following federal court order

The federal grant supports a program that brings free science lessons to children throughout rural Snohomish County.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen goes through an informational slideshow about the current budget situation in Edmonds during a roundtable event at the Edmonds Waterfront Center on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds mulls November property tax levy lid lift

The city is considering options to address its fiscal crisis, including a potential levy higher than originally budgeted.

A person walks up 20th Street Southeast to look at the damage that closed the road on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
WA delegation urges Trump to reconsider request for bomb cyclone aid

The Washington state congressional delegation urged President Donald Trump on… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.