Alcademics

50 Year Time Capsule from the Transamerica Pyramid

Written by

Camper English

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There’s a new exhibit at the Transamerica Pyramid from a time capsule buried 50 years ago. I checked it out. 

The building was completed in 1972- the time capsule is from 1974. Before that, from 1853-1959, it was the Montgomery Block that hosted the Bank Exchange Saloon. The Bank Exchange was the home of the Pisco Punch, the most famous cocktail in SF from roughly 1870-1920. Duncan Nicol, mentioned in the pictures, was the proprietor of the Bank Exchange in its later decades, and the person who popularized the Pisco Punch. He took his secret recipe to his grave.  

I’ve left these images purposefully crappy to encourage you to go see it yourself! 

Transamerica time capsule 1974 - 2025_1

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Transamerica time capsule 1974 - 2025_5
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Comments

4 responses to “50 Year Time Capsule from the Transamerica Pyramid”

  1. Steve Nicholson Avatar
    Steve Nicholson

    That looks really interesting. I’d like to make it down there to see it, but I haven’t been to the city in five years or so.
    My dad was a PG&E cable splicer and cable crew foreman in SF for 36 years. He worked on bringing the electrical service to the pyramid. He also worked for something like 36 hours straight helping bring electricity back to the city after the 1989 earthquake.

    Reply
  2. Camper English Avatar
    Camper English

    @Steve – You might enjoy the video that plays, it shows the advanced electronics/computer control room circa 1972. It’s pretty hilarious. I think the exhibit is semi-permanent so you have time to schedule a visit.

    Reply

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