1976 Zonta Time Capsule

Zonta 1976 Time Capsule FAQ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dacotah Prairie Museum Announces 2026 Exhumation of Zonta 1976 Time Capsule
Public Notice Issued for Reclaiming Contents

Aberdeen, SD — The Dacotah Prairie Museum formally announces plans to exhume the Zonta 1976 Time Capsule in 2026. The time capsule is located in Melgaard Park, Aberdeen, South Dakota, and was originally buried as part of a community Bicentennial project led by the Zonta Club.

The time capsule was originally buried on April 25, 1976, as a Bicentennial project conducted by the Zonta Club. A total of 209 boxes/packages were submitted by local businesses, organizations, families, and individuals. The project procedure at that time required participants to purchase a box, place items and papers representative of 1976 life inside, and return the sealed box along with a duplicate certificate and disposal agreement to the Zonta Club.

Individuals, families, businesses, or organizations who placed objects in the time capsule and who are in possession of an original certificate issued at the time of submission may reclaim ownership of their individual package after exhumation. The donor copy of the original certificate, which was sealed inside each package, will serve as the primary identification for claiming contents. Check this page for updates on how to file a claim and what the process for repatriation of items will be.

Notice of Unclaimed Property:
If an individual package is not claimed within 90 days, or a reasonable time thereafter, following the exhumation, the owner agrees that the contents shall become the property of the Dacotah Prairie Museum, Aberdeen, South Dakota, in accordance with the original disposal agreement.

A list of known submissions is available for public review below.

TENTATIVE time of exhumation will be April 25, weather dependent, or early May 2026 if necessary. The Museum plans to host an ice cream social or similar public celebration in Melgaard Park on the day of exhumation to commemorate this historic community event.

For updates and additional information, please visit the website or contact the Dacotah Prairie Museum directly at 605.626.7117 / dacotahprairiemuseum@gmail.com.

 

CONTENT DONORS

• 1st National Bank
• 1st National Bank, East Branch
• 3 M Club of America
• 5th Grade Freeman Davis School (Mobridge, S. Dak.)
• 6th Grade of O. M. Tiffany School
• Aberdeen American News
• Aberdeen Area Now
• Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce
• Aberdeen Country Club
• Aberdeen Crockery
• Aberdeen Fire Fighters
• Aberdeen Jaycees
• Aberdeen Motors
• Aberdeen National Bank
• Aberdeen School District #32
• Aberdeen School of Commerce
• Aberdeen Senior Center
• Aberdeen Travel, Loren Lomis
• Aberdeen Veterinarian Hospital
• Aberdeen Wilbert Vault Company
• Adjustment Training Center
• Alexander Mitchel Public Library
• Al’s Bakery (Mr. & Mrs. Al Rylance)
• American Assoc. of University Women
• American Legion Auxiliary
• American Red Cross
• Americana Nursing Center
• Ann Lingor (Mercury Cleaners)
• Artz, Mrs. Ralph
• AX PEO
• Bates Clothing
• Belden, Mrs. Alice (Groton)
• Bethesda Home of Aberdeen
• Bethlehem Lutheran Church
• Bicentennial Committee
• Boy’s Club of Aberdeen
• BPOE #1046 (Elks)
• Brown County Commissioners
• Brown County Extension Council
• Brown County Historical Society
• Brown County Republican Party
• Browning, Mr. and Mrs. Dale
• Bunker, Mrs. Ruth
• Business and Professional Women
• C. C. Lee Elementary School
• Catholic Daughters of America
• Centennial Homes
• Chapter B of PEO
• City of Aberdeen
• City Parks & Recreation Department
• Clark Title Company
• Clements, Mrs. R. J.
• Cleo Circle
• Cosmopolitans
• County Health Office
• Crawford Freight Lines
• Cross, Marion
• Dakota Claims Service
• Dakota Midland Hospital
• Dakota North Plains Press
• Department of Practical Nursing (of Dakota Midland Hospital)
• Department of Social Welfare
• Dept. of Math, Natural Science and Health (NSC)
• DeVries Dairy
• Duncan, Dr. and Mrs. H. Ray
• Eastern Star
• Eisenbeisz, Milton
• Evelo, Francis
• Exchange Club
• Faith United Methodist Church
• Farmers and Merchants Bank
• First United Methodist Church
• First United Pentecostal Church
• Fischer, Andrew Family
• Gerber, Henry Family
• Goldan Z Club (NSC)
• Good Shephard Lutheran Church
• Gorsuch, Mr. and Mrs. Charles
• Grosz, Mrs. J. H.
• Hadassah, Jewish Ladies Aid– Congregation B’Nai Isaac
• Hayes Brothers Printing
• Hogg Restaurant Service
• Holgate Junior High School
• Holiday Inn
• Holm, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis
• Holman, Dr. and Mrs. Sam
• House of Glass
• Huebl Funeral Chapel – Miller Funeral Homes
• Jahnke, Dr. Wendell
• Janusz, Dr. and Mrs. A. J.
• Jaycettes
• Jo Rich’s
• Jobs Daughters
• Johnson Motor Company
• Johnson, Mrs. Edna Scott
• Jones Drug
• Kalt, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin (Mansfield)
• Keeley Lumber
• Ken’s Fairway Foods
• Kesslers
• Key Club of Roncalli
• Kiwanis
• KKAA Radio Station
• Krueger, Jones, Miller Families
• Kyburz Construction
• Lamont, Mrs. William
• Langer, Mr. and Mrs. John
• League of Women Voters
• Lions Club
• Loel Lust Chevrolet
• Loucks, Mrs. L. T.
• Mansfield State Bank (Mansfield)
• Marie O. Simmons Shop
• Marshall, Mrs. William
• Martyn Edwards
• Marty’s Upholstery
• May Overby School
• McFarland Supply Company
• Misters Men’s Wear
• Music Department (NSC)
• N.E. Mental Health Center
• N.W. Bell Telephone Company
• N.W. Brach – 1st National Bank
• N.W. Public Service Company
• New York Millinery
• Norquist, Richard
• Northern Electric (Bath)
• Nyoda Girl Scouts
• Odland, Dr. and Mrs. Winston
• P.E.M.M. Club (Northern State College)
• Pack #18 Boy Scouts (C. C. Lee School)
• Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel (Groton)
• Parsch Hardware
• Pfeiffer’s Furniture
• Physician’s Plaza
• Plymouth Clothing
• Plymouth Congregational Church
• Preds
• Presbyterian Church
• Presentation College Auxiliary
• Presentation Sisters
• Quarterback Club
• R.E. Hoffman Company
• Ranch Café (William and Adeline Baker)
• Reed Johnston Insurance
• Ringneck Coin & Stamp Club
• Roesch, Mr. & Mrs. Fred (California)
• Ronayne, Mrs. Felix
• Roncalli High School
• Rood, Mr. and Mrs. T. M.
• Rotary
• S.D. Nurses Assoc. Dist # 13
• S.D. Wheat Growers
• S.D. Medical Association District #1
• Sacred Heart Church x2
• Safegard Industries
• Salmi, Marianne
• Salvation Army
• Sand Lake Dist. Council Boy Scouts of America
• Saunders, Mr. and Mrs. LaVerne
• Scepaniak, Frank
• Schriever, LaVon
• Seaton, Donna
• Senior Class of Central High School 1976
• Sidney L Smith Post American Legion
• Simmons Junior High School
• Spaulding Auto Company
• Squire Land & Loan Company
• St. Agnes Guild (St. Mark’s Church)
• St. John’s Lutheran Church (Warner)
• St. Luke’s Hospital
• St. Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary
• St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
• St. Mary’s Church
• St. Mary’s School
• St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
• Steele, Dr. and Mrs. G. H.
• Stewarts School of Hair Styling
• Sweeny, Dr. William
• Swisher, Mr. and Mrs. Clark
• Taylor’s Implement
• The Democratic Party
• The Lussem Agency
• The Main
• The Toy Chest
• Ti Nu Exemplor Chapter Beta Sigma Phi
• Tiffany Laundry and Dry Cleaners
• Toastmistress Club
• Tonner’s Piggly Wiggly
• United Women’s Society of the First Methodist Church
• Vanity Beauty Salon, Myrtle Taylor
• Virginia Café
• Wallace, Mrs. Ruth
• Weber Floral
• Weigel, Mrs. Jerry
• Western Printing Company
• White Cross Cleaners
• Wilde, Mrs. Olive
• Women of the Moose
• Woods, Sam
• Y W C A
• Yelduz Shrine
• Young Mother’s Club (Warner)
• Z Club of Roncalli
• Zemlicka, Mrs. Mae
• Zion Lutheran Church
• Zonta Club
• Zoobatic (NSC)