Alberta woman opens time capsule, unleashes a wave of ’90s nostalgia
When Rebecca Henderson sealed her time capsule in 1999, she probably didn’t imagine it becoming a viral video 25 years later.
The Olds, Alberta, woman was studying at the University of Alberta then and explained she “wanted to make something cool,” so she filled the time capsule with things she thought would be reminders of the time.
“As for the opening date, I remember talking about how long to leave it, and I wanted to ensure I was still around and that I had kids so that I could show them,” said Henderson.
On January 1, 2025, Henderson opened the time capsule with her two children, ages six and seven. The unveiling has been viewed on Instagram more than 1.5 million times, offering a unique and nostalgic glimpse into the past.
Rebecca Henderson
The time capsule includes a TV Guide, a Rubik’s Cube, newspapers featuring major headlines of the era (like the Gretzky retirement), homemade wine, and everyday items like glue sticks and Post-it notes, which the list of contents describes as “things that are used a lot right now.”
“It seems like I assumed we wouldn’t be using as many paper products now,” she joked.
A menu from Earl’s was also sealed away, taking us back to a time when calamari cost $7.49 and happy hour margaritas went for just $2.99 — a stark contrast to today’s $19.75 Yuzu Calamari and $10 happy hour Earl’s margaritas on today’s Earls Edmonton Campus menu.
@rebeccahenderson.at/Instagram
“I really liked reading the things with a price to see the inflation since then.”
One sentimental piece Henderson was also happy to see was a set of sealed letters from herself, her dad, and her grandmother.
“My Grandma has since passed,” she said. “I was happy to read them as I hadn’t read them at all back then.”
Rebecca Henderson
“My kids thought some was cool, but not all of it. The newspapers and such didn’t mean anything to them,” she said.
“[The TV Guide] was fun to explain how we used them to see what was on TV. They couldn’t believe having to look it up and not just watch what they want when they want.”
If you’re looking to make your own time capsule, Henderson recommends adding things that are meaningful to you, suggesting others may want to add items that will be valuable in the near-to-distant future.
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As for Henderson’s time capsule, she plans to add more to it and seal it back up until 2050.