Government Services Center Unveils Century Old Time Capsule

VIRGINIA, Minn.– Excitement was on today in the city of Virginia for the unveiling of a 100-year-old time capsule.

City leaders, the public, and even some school kids came out for the big reveal.

The capsule was removed a few years back from the former century-old Northland Office Building.

It was recovered when the building was demolished to make way for the new 20-million-dollar St. Louis County Government Services Center.

The capsule revealed official documents, books and newspapers dating back to 1924.

It also contained a medal from the city of Virginia, a coin, and a bible.

“Honestly, I’m just kind of a huge history nerd. So just in general I think time capsules are really cool. So, it’s mostly just the anticipation of it opening that I thought was really cool. I’m not from Virginia but I’m always interested in finding stuff like that,” said Aliyah Goldberger, a spectator for the time capsule reveal.

Tuesday’s event was also a big open house of the new government services center with guided tours.

The 63,000 square foot building was designed to be energy efficient including a solar system, geo-thermal heating and cooling, and LED lighting.

The building opened four years ago but events like the pandemic postponed today’s celebration until now.

“You saw the outpouring of the public to be here today. To come and see what all is in here. And you’re seeing it right now. The people that are looking as they go through the building. Special stuff. This building belongs to the people,” said St. Louis County Commissioner Keith Nelson.

The contents of the time capsule will be permanently displayed in the Virginia Government services center which houses nearly 300 employees across multiple departments.