This past weekend, the Arnold Engineering Development Complex celebrated its 75th anniversary with an open house. Residents and civilians had a unique opportunity to enter Arnold Air Force Base and take bus tours around the base to get a peak of what happens at the base, as well as enjoy various events and activities, including the rededication of the base, the time capsule, honoring former AEDC commanders and this year’s AEDC Fellows and the change of command ceremony.

According to AEDC officials, the base saw more than 8,000 visitors during the open house, who got to enjoy various food trucks, vendors, a fun zone for children, a walkthrough of the history of AEDC and musical performances from Darin Jones & the Last Men Standing and Sara Jones & the High Tones.

The time capsule event saw several previous commanders of the base, as well as Col. Grant Mizell, deposit items reflecting their time at the base. AEDC Historian Ken Sloat said the event was a “marriage of the past, present and future,” and the time capsule would be sealed until 2051, when it will be reopened as part of AEDC’s 100th anniversary.

Check out the sealing of the time capsule here:

In addition, special guests like U.S. House Rep Scott DeJarlais, and Jay Strobino from Marsha Blackburn’s office also put in their respective America 250 challenge coins, as well as an item from the World Cup and a letter signed from Blackburn.

Check out the full photo gallery below: