Yahoo Autos Miss Belvedere's Time Capsule Tragedy
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As one of the weirdest time capsule burials ever, the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, buried a brand new 1957 Plymouth Belvedere in 1957 as part of its Golden Jubilee celebration. The occasion marked Oklahoma's 50th year of statehood and included a unique contest, where participants guessed Tulsa’s 2007 population, with the winner awarded the buried car. The Plymouth, fondly named 'Miss Belvedere', was interred with various period items, including gasoline, beer, and personal accessories, symbolizing the era's lifestyle and technology.
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Despite the city’s efforts to preserve the vehicle in a robust underground vault, the unearthing in 2007 revealed a disheartening sight. The vault had been compromised, and Miss Belvedere was found submerged in water, suffering extensive damage. The car, once a symbol of futuristic hope, was now a rusted relic, its condition a stark contrast to the excitement and optimism that marked its burial.
The winner of the contest, Raymond Humbertson, who had accurately predicted the city's population, had sadly passed away, along with his wife, leaving no direct heirs. The car and prize money were eventually awarded to Humbertson's closest relatives.
Miss Belvedere’s story reflects the intrigue of time capsules and their role in preserving history, albeit with unpredictable outcomes. While the intention was to gift the future a pristine piece of the past, the reality was a poignant reminder of time’s irreversible effects. Despite its decayed state, the car remains a fascinating artifact, embodying the dreams and aspirations of a bygone era. Now housed in the Historic Auto Attractions Museum in Roscoe, Illinois, Miss Belvedere continues to attract attention, serving as a tangible link to the past and a testament to the unpredictable nature of time capsules.
