A glimpse of Kansas City at the dawn of the 20th century has come with the opening of the Century Box, a time capsule installed inside Municipal Auditorium on January 1, 1901. And inside, among other things, a letter from then-Mayor James A. Reed, noting the great progress of the 19th century, just past. “Within its brief span the ox cart has given place to the locomotive; wooden sail vessels to steel leviathans, propelled by steam, that plow the waves of very sea; the telegraph and telephone have taken the place of mounted couriers.” 100 years from now, reporters will be talking about the things found in the new Century Box, containing things put in yesterday. It’s to be opened on January 1, 2101.
