A story for the 22nd century

Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2005 | 7:38 a.m.

What: Donate items (small enough to fit in a shoe box) to the Las Vegas Centennial Time Capsule.

When: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 14.

Where: Cashman Center, Hall A, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

Information: www.lasvegas2005.org.

What: Time capsule design competition.

When: Nov. 28 deadline.

Information: www.lasvegas2005.org or 229-6844.

One of the points made in Las Vegas' request seeking items for the centennial time capsule is that donated items will not be returned.

"We aren't digging it up in four years," said Esther Carter of the Las Vegas Centennial office.

But there is a nagging question of whether it will it be dug up at all. Often time capsules are, well, lost to time. They are forgotten. They disappear.

Las Vegas City Hall has a time capsule whose whereabouts is a mystery.

An old photograph of the dedication of a time capsule at the Boulevard mall exists at the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society. But apparently, its whereabouts or when it is to be dug up (or if it has been dug up) remains a mystery. Another time capsule was planted at the mall in 2000.

"There are probably more time capsules out there that we don't know about," David Millman, the museum's collections curator, said.

"It's a good idea," Millman said about time capsules. "Everybody loves it. But as time goes on, people retire, institutional memory goes away.

"This one, we'll know about," he said.

That's because the centennial time capsule, which will be placed in Centennial Plaza, near Fourth Street and Lewis Avenue, will be a monument that reflects Las Vegas' history and culture and also notes its contents.

A design competition for the monument has a Nov. 28 deadline. The competition is a collaboration between the Las Vegas Arts Commission and the centennial office. The monument or art work will encase two containers embedded in concrete.

"We're looking for a range of styles, but mainly a timeless piece of art," said Lisa Stamanis, the commission's senior visual arts specialist. "Of course, we're looking for material that lasts 100 years. That's no small feat."

The capsule's contents must tell what life was like in Las Vegas in 2005.

Centennial T-shirts, news articles, press releases and license-plate holders that read "We Did It Our Way" have been collected.

On Nov. 14, residents will have a chance to bring items they'd like to contribute. Items that represent local residents and their lifestyles, but mostly centennial-related items, are being sought, Carter said. Nothing vintage is wanted.

Millman, who will serve as a capsule gatekeeper -- along with history buff Bob Stoldal, vice president of news operations at KLAS Channel 8 -- isn't sure what Las Vegans might drum up. He'd like to see schoolchildren get involved and predict what life will be like in 2105. Also, he said, restaurant menus and essays on life in Las Vegas would be ideal.

So far he's heard mainly from parties who would like to contribute dirt and water samples for future comparison.

Kristen Peterson can be reached at 259-2317 or kristen@lasvegassun.com.