When the first rays of light finally pierced the chamber’s darkness, disbelief rippled through the crowd. Resting inside was a bright yellow 1975 Chevrolet Vega—still on its original tires, with only the delivery miles from dealership to vault on the odometer. The irony didn’t escape longtime car enthusiasts. The Vega was notorious in the 1970s for its poor build quality, with jokes circulating that it could rust just by being mentioned in a brochure. Yet this particular Vega emerged in near-mint condition. Except for a little surface rust on the hood and a steering wheel singed by heat, it is otherwise shockingly pristine—a sight guaranteed to make collectors weak in the knees.
And the surprises didn’t stop there. Parked beside the Chevy was a brand-new Kawasaki motorcycle, another untouched relic from the era. But the true treasure lay in the thousands of personal items Davisson encouraged Seward residents to contribute. More than five thousand letters, packages, and keepsakes were recovered. Despite some mold damage, roughly eighty percent of the items were perfectly preserved. Families opened handwritten notes from loved ones long gone and listened to cassette tapes that carried voices not heard in decades. For many, it felt like a window directly into the past — a deeply emotional experience that moved the crowd to tears.