Crypt of Civilization

The Crypt of Civilization is a sealed underground room on the campus of Oglethorpe University that houses a time capsule containing objects and records from the 1930s. The rectangular chamber with enamel-coated walls sits beneath the main university building and remains shut behind a permanently sealed stainless steel door.

Thornwell Jacobs started work on this project in 1937 and brought in scientific advisers to review construction methods. The chamber was sealed in 1940 with the intention of giving future humans access to historical sources from that era.

The name echoes ancient burial traditions while reflecting a desire to preserve knowledge for distant future societies. Visitors cannot open the sealed door today, but the project remains part of the university's academic legacy.

The sealed chamber sits in the basement of Phoebe Hearst Memorial Hall on the university grounds. Visitors cannot enter the room itself, but information about its history is available inside the building.

Inside the containers sit everyday items like coffee makers and sewing machines alongside scientific instruments and a toothbrush. The organizers also included recordings of radio broadcasts and political speeches from that time.