About the Initiative

To mark South Bend’s 160th anniversary, the City is making a Digital Time Capsule. We are asking residents to share their South Bend story by submitting meaningful locations and accompanying materials to be preserved for future generations.

Submissions can include:

• Photos or recordings of your neighborhood, events, favorite local spots, or a snapshot of your daily life.
• Digital creations, illustrations, paintings, or any other visual expression reflecting South Bend.
• Letters, poems, or reflections about life in South Bend.

Where submissions will live

After we receive and review submissions, they may be included in the SB160 Digital Time Capsule. This time capsule will be an online site that includes a gallery and a map feature where viewers can explore meaningful locations across South Bend. The site will be stored on the Internet Archive and preserved for South Bend's future.

When to submit

We are actively receiving and reviewing submissions now, with a priority deadline of December 20th. The time capsule will launch by the end of 2025, but additional submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis.

How to submit

Submissions should be emailed to timecapsule@southbendin.gov. File attachments (pdf, png, jpeg, mp4, etc.) are encouraged.

All submissions need - at minimum - a location and a first name to be considered for the time capsule.

311 Process Notes

Please reach out to Patrick McGuire (pmcguire@southbendin.gov) for additional questions