LONGMONT, Colo. – Longmont residents have a chance to share what life is like in 2021 by contributing to the creation of a new “Century Chest” time capsule. The chest, commissioned by the City’s Art in Public Places program, will remain sealed for 100 years.

The City is asking residents to donate bicycle parts in any condition to be included in the project, such as chains, sprockets, gears, wheels, handlebars, and more at the following locations by Friday, Sept. 10:

• Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road
• Longmont Library, 409 4th Ave.
• or the Firehouse Art Center, 667 4th Ave.

Local artist David Flores-Orozco will incorporate these bicycle parts into the real-time welding fabrication of the Century Chest during ArtWalk on Main Street, held from 4 – 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, as part of a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Longmont’s founding.

Residents should look for the marked drop-off buckets at each location and can share a photo of themselves with their bike part contribution using the hashtag #LongmontCenturyChest. Those photos will then be included inside the capsule.

During ArtWalk, attendees can also get involved with the contents of the Century Chest by adding their handprint to a “Make Your Mark on Longmont” community canvas that will be put inside the capsule. Creation of the canvas will happen throughout the event at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Main Street. After it is complete, the Century Chest will be housed on public display at the Longmont Library until the year 2121 instead of being buried like a traditional time capsule.

In addition to creating a new Century Chest for future generations, the community will get to look into the past as Longmont Museum Curator of History Erik Mason opens a time capsule containing historic memorabilia from 1996 from the stage at 5th Avenue and Main Street starting at 5:30 p.m. during ArtWalk. Following the presentation, these items will be on display at the Museum’s ArtWalk booth, and later at the Museum.

The September ArtWalk on Main event is a celebration of Longmont’s 150th anniversary presented by the Firehouse Art Center in partnership with the City of Longmont and the Longmont Downtown Development Authority. The event also includes live music and entertainment, more than 40 artist booths and art activities, community organizations and merchants, Zumba, guided meditation, historic emergency vehicles, food trucks, a full Main Street beer garden, and more. To learn more about ArtWalk, visit firehouseart.org/artwalk-longmont.

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