Forgotten time capsule from 1954 shows Mannheim's moving story!

Forgotten time capsule from 1954 shows Mannheim's moving story!

Mannheim, Deutschland - in Mannheim there is a special reason to be happy: the time capsule of the National Theater, which was buried on June 18, 1954, the day of the foundation stone of the new building, is now exhibited in the foyer of the OPAL opera venue. The content of this capsule offers an exciting insight into the post -war period and is reminiscent of the renewal of a city that was severely affected by the destruction of the Second World War. SWR reports that the capsule was discovered during construction work in the summer of 2024 when it was initially suspected that it could be a war ammunition.

The capsule, which was hidden and forgotten deep in the earth, then gave some very valuable documents: a certificate for laying the foundation with the signature of the then mayor Hermann Heimerich, several daily newspapers of June 18, 1954, program booklet of the theater from the middle of the 1950s, as well as travel guide and city plans. These finds tell not only about the opening of the National Theater, but also of the workers' uprising in the GDR, which took place exactly two years earlier, on June 17, 1953.

invitation to the journey through time

The exhibition, which will be shown in the upper foyer of the Opal by the end of July, enables visitors to have an exciting journey through time. The Nationaltheater Mannheim invites citizens to contribute their own ideas and contributions to the future time capsule, which is planned in the course of the general renovation of the theater. This new capsule is to be entered in one of the new extensions on Goetheplatz.

The general renovation overall costs 340 million euros, although the financing is only partially secured by the federal and state governments. The city of Mannheim bears a great financial burden. Experts from the city have already searched for ways to cope with this challenge, so that the historical importance of the new capsule and the entire exhibition is not neglected.

historical perspectives

A look into the past shows which changes Mannheim has gone through since the days of reconstruction. the Mannheimer Morgen emphasizes that the visible destruction of the war is far from being healed together, one is still a new one to create cultural identity.

Be part of this exciting journey of discovery and take a look at the forgotten stories that were hidden deep in the earth of Mannheim. The exhibition in the opal not only offers insights into the past, but also a platform for the future. The National Theater is ready to inspire future generations with a new time capsule.