Bloglander

In celebration of the 125th anniversary of Washington's founding as a state, applications for the next generation of "keepers" of the state's Centennial Time Capsule are rolling in and continue to be accepted through Tuesday, Oct. 21.

The Washington Office of the Secretary of State is looking for children born between Nov. 4-18, 2004, and who will turn 10 years old around the time of the Capsule Keepers swearing-in ceremony on Nov. 11 in Olympia.

Swearing-in ceremony for the first group of Centennial Time Capsule Keepers in 1989.

Inside a 3,000-lb. vault at the State Capitol, the Centennial Time Capsule contains collections of messages to the future, along with Washingtonians' personal memories, important state-related books and other memorabilia. Washington residents are encouraged to send in their own notes and book nominations for the capsule to be added during a ceremony in February.

Twenty-five years from now, in 2039, the next group of keepers will add more contents to the capsule. A new group of keepers will also be elected to follow this upcoming generation and those who started the project in 1989 in honor of Washington's 100th anniversary.

It'll be another 375 years — on Washington state's 500th anniversary in 2389 — until all 16 of the individual, 25-year time capsules will be reopened, which means the responsibility of the capsule's upkeep lies in the hands of 15 future keeper generations.

If you have something important to say to Washington residents of 2389, send your messages to [email protected]. Book nominations can be sent in here, and don't forget to have your almost-10-year-olds who love history (or the future) apply to be a keeper.