Dover in Stewart County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The Spirit of '76 Half Century Time Capsule

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 6, 2025

1. The Spirit of '76 Half Century Time Capsule Marker

Inscription.
The Spirit of '76
Half Century
Time Capsule
To be opened
July 4, 2026

Herein are mementoes from the people of the year A.D. 1976 to the people of the year A.E. 2026

Sealed by the Stewart County
Bicentennial Commission
September 6, 1976

Erected 1976 by Stewart County Bicentennial Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the The Spirit of ’76, America’s Bicentennial Celebration, and the Time Capsules series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is September 6, 1976.

Location. 36° 29.281′ N, 87° 50.397′ W. Marker is in Dover, Tennessee, in Stewart County. It is at the intersection of Donelson Parkway (U.S. 79) and Spring Street (Tennessee Route 49), on the right when traveling south on Donelson Parkway. Location is in front of the Stewart County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225 Donelson Parkway, Dover TN 37058, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in the Highland Rim.

It is also in the American South

and specifically

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in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stewart Co. War Memorial (here, next to this marker); To All Who Served (within shouting distance of this marker); History of the Stewart County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Dover Under Fire (within shouting distance of this marker); Surrender House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rice House (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Rice House (approx. 0.2 miles away); C.S.A. Headquarters (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dover.

Also see . . . 50 Year Time Capsule Unveiled To Excited Crowd. Opening of the Spirit of '76 Time Capsule, as reported by Stewart County Standard

The unveiling happened in the Cumberland Room of the Visitor Center. The Standard spoke to Mayor Robert “Boo” Beecham,
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he said the plans were to have Jim Long from the Stewart County Archives inspect the contents to see if they needed remediation, but they did not. Beecham said about 100 people attended the unveiling and they were all amazed at the condition of the items. He told the Standard, what stood to him was a copy of the Dover Courier newspaper from 1920. “Probably the coolest thing for me was the paper from 1920. Over a hundred year old document that’s still in good shape for what it is, a hundred year old newspaper,” said Beecham. Also during the unveiling, Wayne Anglin of Anglin’s Funeral Home got emotional as he removed items, his father, Herman Anglin placed in the capsule, including a picture of the funeral home. Other items of interest in the capsule were creative writing assignments from North Stewart Elementary students, a phone book, minutes from county meetings, newspaper clippings and more. The last item unveiled was the American flag. The flag was in a wrapper and in really good shape. Beecham asked the large crowd attending if they wanted to see the flag flown at the Court House over the July 4 weekend and was met with cheers, he estimated more than two thirds of the crowd agreed.

There was also a letter to the people of Stewart Co. from the Chairman of the Stewart County Bicentennial Commission, Michael Livingston. He said in part of the letter, “When this vault is opened July 4, 2026, America will be well on the way to celebrating its Tri-Centennial. It is our fervent hope and prayer that America will continue to grow and prosper and still be known as the symbol of Democracy in this ever-changing world.”

(Submitted on July 23, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 195 times since then and 74 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on July 7, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.