Woman Pries Opens Grandma's Locked Antique Steamer Trunk From 1966, and Its Contents Are an Incredible Time Capsule
For decades, creator @coastcowboy thought the antique steamer trunk she got from her family was empty - but turns out, it wasn't. Not only that, but it was filled with incredible goodies, serving as a fun time capsule to the 1960s.
Keep reading to learn more about the history of the trunk and what @coastcowboy found inside it!
This Creator Found a Newspaper From 1966 in Her Grandma's Old Trunk
"So I've had this antique steamer trunk in my possession for the last 10 years and I've used it as a coffee table, and never opened it because this has always been locked," @coastcowboy said in her video, which has more than 8.6 million views on TikTok. "I got it from my mom who, I think, got it from my grandma. But my mom told me it was empty."
@coastcowboy had the idea to clean the trunk, which was made by Multnomah Baggageman Proof, and use it as a dress box for her daughters. This idea is what inspired her to try and pry it open - and she managed to do it after about 30 minutes. "I just popped the lock, and it's not empty, so I thought we'd go through it all together," she said.
After lifting the lid, she discovered that the trunk was fitted with an inner box featuring a floral pattern and latches - and when you open the latches, there are a few small compartments. The first item she saw in there was a 60-year-old newspaper called The Idaho Daily Statesman from May 5, 1966.
In the paper, there was an ad for cars - and the prices are unbelievable. A 1956 Ford was being sold for $189 (seriously) and the most expensive car in the ad was a 1965 Ford being sold for just $2,699.
@coastcowboy what a time to be alive #timecapsule
There Is Something On Your Mind - Big Jay McNeely
The Trunk Also Had an Entire Wardrobe's Worth of Clothes
Then, @coastcowboy lifted the rest of the cover and discovered endless vintage clothes, seemingly for a child or young woman. There were several dresses, including an amazing black floral dress with a matching bonnet. There were also skirts, shirts, gym shorts, dress shoes, a bag and a few hats and bonnets. She also found some pieces of fabric in retro prints, as well as a mysterious wig with short brown hair.
And finally, in a followup video, @coastcowboy added that her grandma is still alive. She was also able to confirm that the trunk belonged to her grandma - who couldn't quite remember why she saved the particular items that were in the trunk.
@coastcowboy answering some trunk FAQ's!#greenscreen
Cherry - Jordan Susanto
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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 7:00 AM.