Published on: February 17, 2026, 07:21h.
Updated on: February 16, 2026, 09:17h.
- Over the years, seven time capsules were buried by Las Vegas Strip casinos.
- Chances are, none will be uncovered on their designated dates, and many may never be found at all.
- Two have already surpassed their scheduled opening dates, one was mistakenly disposed of as trash, and the whereabouts of the remaining four are unknown.
Time capsules are a nostalgic tradition where proprietors of cultural landmarks entomb items believed to be significant for future generations to discover.
Research indicates that seven time capsules have been entombed by three casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. However, reflecting Las Vegas’ tendency to overlook its own past, it seems unlikely any will be retrieved by the generations for whom they were originally intended.
In Las Vegas, the ownership of land frequently changes hands, with new landowners often showing little care for preserving the legacies of their predecessors, much less investing in breaking concrete to unearth these capsules.
Sands
Sands of Time
The first Las Vegas time capsule was interred on December 15, 1953, marking the Sands’ first anniversary. The entertainment director, Jack Entratter, known for his flair for the dramatic, had a 12-foot faux rocket constructed to symbolize its journey into the future. It descended a custom-built guide rail into its burial site on the front lawn.
The capsule contained an array of memorabilia, such as:
- A wax impression of singer Jimmy Durante’s nose
- Autographed autobiography of Sands performer Tallulah Bankhead
- Dancing shoes of Ray Bolger, famed star of Wizard of Oz
- Bing Crosby’s pipe
- A straw hat belonging to actor/singer Maurice Chevalier
- Boxing gloves from Sugar Ray Robinson
- Sheet music for “Short’nin’ Bread” signed by Nelson Eddy
- Transcript from a Louella Parsons interview with Frank Sinatra
Durante and Bankhead, who inscribed her book “To 2053 A.D., best of luck!” gathered to help fill the capsule, intended to be unearthed a century later.
However, once buried, time capsules often fade from memory. After the Sands expanded its lobby in 1963, the original Las Vegas time capsule was accidentally removed along with construction debris, ending up at a North Las Vegas municipal dump.
This became known after a year later, local resident Ada Conn was “rat picking” (their term for antiquing) at the landfill. (The superintendent there charged $1 per item recovered to cover costs for this side hustle.)
“Is that an old bomb?” Conn questioned her husband and daughter when they stumbled upon a peculiar metal container containing items encased in plastic bags.
When the Sands celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1977, articles highlighted the capsule’s filling 14 years prior.
Conn reached out to the Sands regarding the forgotten items stored in their attic.
“Owners have the right to reclaim their property if they wish,” she informed the Las Vegas Review-Journal at that time.
Executives at the Sands were unaware of the capsule’s mishap and were in the process of planning a marker for their lobby denoting its estimated underground location.
The boxes returned to Sands executives contained Bolger’s shoes, Bankhead’s autobiography, the sheet music, and the Parsons transcript. However, the capsule had already been opened when the Conns found it, leading to speculation that other items had fallen out during the incident.
Sands of Time II
On February 6, 1978, Sands executives attempted again—though they missed the actual 25th anniversary by two months. From the initial capsule’s retrieved artifacts, only Ray Bolger’s shoes were reburied. (Tradition dictates that time capsules should include items relevant at the time of burial. Conn was rewarded with the other 1950s collectibles discovered.)
The second capsule featured, among other treasures:
- Ray Bolger’s dancing shoes (replaced)
- Medallions from Wayne Newton and Sammy Davis Jr.
- Roy Clark’s monogrammed handkerchief
- Jimmy Durante’s trousers from his final Sands performance in 1970
- Peanuts from President Jimmy Carter’s Georgia farm
- Winning silks from Seattle Slew
- A signed baseball from New York Yankees manager Billy Martin
Learning from the past that future generations may forget about time capsules, Sands executives set a 25-year schedule for the unearthing instead of 100 years.
Sadly, the Sands would not get to unveil this capsule for its 50th anniversary in 2002, as it was acquired by billionaire Sheldon Adelson six years prior.
The exact location of Sands of Time II underneath the Venetian remains uncertain—unless it was destroyed in the 1996 demolition of the Sands tower and disposed of like the first capsule.
Neither Adelson, nor the current owners Apollo Global Management/VICI Properties, have shown any interest in finding the buried capsule.
Stardust
The Sands was not only the first Las Vegas casino to entomb a time capsule but also the last to celebrate it publicly.
All other capsules along the Strip were filled strictly with casino memorabilia and entered into the ground during private ceremonies confined to casino staff.
1961 Capsule: Interred on September 14 at the Stardust’s new golf course, this capsule contained a 1961 brochure, room key, gaming chip, matchbook, and a record of prevailing hotel executives. Its unveiling was slated 100 years later.
2003 Capsule: This rocket-shaped container was buried on July 2 to celebrate the property’s 45th anniversary, including the original 1958 Stardust ledger and vintage gaming chips. The reopening was set for 100 years later as well.
The Stardust was demolished on March 13, 2007, and, similar to the Sands capsules, neither of the Stardust capsules is likely to be accessed again. The site currently hosts Resorts World.
Desert Inn
1985 Capsule: Filled with casino memorabilia for the resort’s 35th anniversary, this capsule was scheduled for opening 35 years later, on April 24, 2020. As expected, it has not been unearthed.
1992 Capsule: This capsule housed a media kit, gaming chips, and a VHS of Vega$, among other items. It was meant for unearthing 50 years later but was buried on a non-anniversary date (the D.I.’s 42nd), as owner Kirk Kerkorian sought to immediately enhance the property’s historical narrative and market value.
Kerkorian aimed to sell the costly establishment in favor of focusing on another resort he owned nearby, and a year later, ITT Sheraton purchased the D.I. while Kerkorian launched the current MGM Grand venture.
2000 Capsule: Interred in a granite enclosure at the casino entrance during the property’s 50th anniversary on April 24, this capsule was intended for unveiling on the D.I.’s centenary. However, the establishment wouldn’t last an additional four months. Four days after burial, the D.I. was acquired by a notorious adversary of historic preservation.
Casino magnate Steve Wynn ceased operations at the historic staple where Frank Sinatra debuted in Las Vegas in 1951. Throughout its demolition from 2001 to 2004, he made no efforts to recover any time capsules for safekeeping. All three are assumed to be lost, destroyed, or still buried somewhere beneath the Wynn or Encore entrances.
“Lost Vegas” is a recurring series by Casino.org highlighting the overlooked history of Las Vegas. Click here to explore other entries in the series. Do you have a compelling Vegas story that has been forgotten by history? Reach out to [email protected].