The City Celebrates History with 20-Year Time Capsule Opening

Published on March 01, 2025

Last month, past and present city leaders, residents, and staff gathered to celebrate the history of Sunny Isles Beach by opening a time capsule buried in 2005. The stainless steel capsule was sealed and buried at the David P. Samson Commission Chambers on February 5, 2005, and exactly 20 years later, it was removed and opened.

Designed to offer future generations a glimpse into the city's evolution since its incorporation in 1997, the capsule contained historical items curated by historian Richard C. Schulman. Among the artifacts were newspaper articles, photographs of city leaders and events, the city charter, letters from the former Commission, a copy of the 2004-05 city budget, and even CDs, DVDs, and a VHS capturing moments from the past.

“Each item represents a piece of our story – a glimpse into what life was like in 2005, what mattered to the people who were here before us, and how far we’ve come since then,” said Mayor Larisa Svechin.

Thanks to careful preservation efforts, most of the items remained intact. The airtight seal and oxygen-absorbing packets helped protect them from aging over the past two decades.

This isn’t the only time capsule hidden in the city. Another capsule, buried at Trump Palace, is set to be opened on the City’s 50th Anniversary in 2047—offering future residents yet another window into Sunny Isles Beach’s history.