Newport, Oregon — Since the Oregon Coast Aquarium opened on May 23rd, 1992, people have traveled from near and far to connect with the wonders of the Oregon coast. As the Aquarium enters its 30th year, the time is nigh to reflect on the past and look to the future.
Over the last three decades, the Aquarium has endured, adapted, thrived, and inspired. OCAq’s story continues, with 2021 acting as a pivotal chapter. Thanks to contributions from many donors and supporters, construction commenced on the first phase of the Aquarium’s Capital Campaign for improvements, which include a new admissions annex, Children’s Nature Play Area, Outdoor Amphitheater, Great Hall, and headwaters feature. In 2022, the Aquarium will enter phase 2 and 3 of the campaign, which includes renovations to its three indoor galleries and the construction of a new Marine Rehabilitation Center.
The Aquarium has buried a time capsule to commemorate its progress and the unprecedented events of 2021. In collaboration with Lincoln County municipalities, the contents of the time capsule will provide future generations with an idea of what life was like on Oregon’s coast in 2021. The time capsule acts as a historical mosaic, wherein individual pieces come together to create an image that reflects the shared experiences of our coastal communities.
The time capsule, set to be unearthed in 2076, includes currency from this year, postcards from Aquarium staff, printed images, physical Aquarium tickets, a letter from OCAq President and CEO Carrie Lewis, and a flash drive filled with digital materials. The time capsule also includes contributions from local municipalities and organizations.
The Oregon Coast Aquariums extends its thanks to those who participated in this collaborative effort. Lincoln City supplied one of its iconic glass floats, while Yachats submitted a written letter. The Newport News-Times provided a printed newspaper along with a flash drive containing featured stories from 2021. The Newport Symphony contributed a flash drive of music along with a physical 2021-2022 season program. An edition of A Celebration of Partnerships and Investments in Conservation and Restoration on Oregon’s Central Coast was also submitted, highlighting the current status of Lincoln County’s watersheds and the vital conservation and restoration work surrounding them.
List of Contents
Aquarium Items
- A letter from OCAq President and CEO Carrie Lewis
- Postcards from OCAq staff
- Physical tickets
- Stickers from the Aquarium gift shop
- Printed images of the Aquarium’s exhibits, facilities, and surrounding areas
- Rolled Aquarium pennies and a Keiko commemorative coin
- A book from the Aquarium gift shop: All We Can Save by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine Wilkinson
- 2021 brochures and rack cards
- Photos of current staff
- A Cruisin’ the Fossil Coastline shirt
- A flash drive filled with documents, photos, and videos highlighting 2021 and OCAq’s history
- A bottle of Glenfiddich single malt scotch whisky, contributed by Tracy Burt, Operations Manager, who proposed and coordinated the time capsule project
- A vintage Aquarium banner
Items from Local Municipalities and Organizations
- Printed newspapers and a flash drive containing featured stories of 2021 – the Newport News-Times
- A printed 30th anniversary brochure and 2021-2022 season program and a flash drive containing music – the Newport Symphony
- A printed edition of A Celebration of Partnerships and Investments in Conservation and Restoration on Oregon’s Central Coast
- A written letter, face mask, and commemorative pins – the City of Newport
- A glass float, flag, sticker, tin, coffee cup, poster, business cards, and brochure – Lincoln City
- A pin and a copy of The Yachats Indians, Origins of the Yachats Name, and the Prison Camp Years by Joanne Kittel and Suzanne Curtis – the City of Yachats
The time capsule is a metal, airtight container, approximately the size of a five gallon bucket. The capsule is nested within two larger metal containers, with a layer of foam in between to prevent moisture from reaching the contents inside. The capsule is buried near the Aquarium’s gift shop, where it will remain for the next fifty-five years, piquing curiosity and encouraging onlookers to keep their eyes on the horizon, while considering the tides that brought us this far.
