If Saving Time in a Bottle, Don't Lose the Bottle

By Melissa August, Harriet Barovick, Val Castronovo, Ellin Martens, Desa Philadelphia, Julie Rawe, Chris Taylor and Josh Tyrangiel

The year 2000 has spurred a renewed interest in time capsules. But according to the International Time Capsule Society at Atlanta's Oglethorpe University, 90% of time capsules are never recovered. On the ITCS's wanted list of rogue capsules:

--Wilkinsburg, Pa., capsule: during a 1986 centennial celebration, residents found a capsule from 1912 with documents and medals. Unfortunately, they were looking for a still-lost one from 1962.

--Corona, Calif., capsules: 17 capsules were buried in the '30s. Pavements were ripped up around the city in 1986, but none has been found.

--M*A*S*H time capsule: buried in 1983 under a 20th Century Fox parking lot, which has since been sold, the capsule may rest underneath the Century City, Calif., Marriott.

--Bicentennial Wagon Train capsule: along with the signatures of 22 million Americans, it was stolen on July 4, 1976, just before Gerald Ford was to bury it.

--Gas City, Ind., capsule: in 1992, at the mayor's urging, 200 residents dug around city hall for a 50-year-old capsule. Thirty large holes and one downed flagpole later, they gave up.