Crews may have found 1887 time capsule in Lee statue base

RICHMOND, Va. – Crews working to remove the pedestal where a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee towered over Richmond, Virginia, for more than a century believe they’ve found a time capsule that was buried there in 1887.

The massive bronze equestrian statue of Lee, erected in 1890, was taken down in September, more than a year after Gov. Ralph Northam ordered its removal.

On Friday, crews found a square box embedded in a granite stone. The box appears to be the copper time capsule, said Devon Henry, owner of the construction company that is working to remove the pedestal.