The City of Reading’s 275th Anniversary Committee is organizing an event for the public to see the contents of a time capsule that will be buried in City Park. The event will be held Saturday, March 16, 2024, Reading’s official birthday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Berks History Center, located at 940 Centre Avenue, Reading, PA 19601.
The event will showcase items intended for the time capsule, offering the public an opportunity to see them. Attendees can also write their own messages for future Reading citizens to be included in the capsule. The time capsule is set to be revealed as part of the 300th Anniversary celebrations in 2048.
“Our Berks History Center team is thrilled to collaborate with Reading275 and for our involvement with this incredibly special time capsule. I am looking forward to curating a display of the capsule contents, including letters our community members write for our friends of the future to read. Visitors to the BHC will be able to view the items for a limited time before they are sealed up. We hope you’ll join this initiative to make history!” says Amber Vroman- Curator, Berks History Center
During the event, all three floors of the Berks History Center’s Historical Society Museum will be accessible to the public. The event is open to everyone free of charge, and attendees can enjoy complimentary refreshments.
The City of Reading’s 275th Anniversary was marked throughout 2023 with both city-led and community organized events. Celebrations began in March with city-wide birthday parties, thanks to the support of Redner’s Markets, a fundraising gala at the Reading Public Museum, a fireworks display, an official proclamation ceremony, and delegate visits from sister cities Reading, England and Reutlingen, Germany.
Other events to mark the anniversary included PagodaFest, 275th Anniversary Parade, Tour of Historic Downtown Churches, Ringgold Band Concert, opening night festivities at First Energy Stadium, creation of a commemorative piece of artwork and planting of 40,000 daffodils across the city.
