A steel time capsule containing hundreds of artifacts, documents and cultural treasures was buried in Philadelphia as part of celebrations marking the United States' 250th anniversary. Known as America's Time Capsule, the archive was commissioned by Congress and interred on July 4, 2026, exactly 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Contents of the capsule
Among the items are bottles of Coke, fabric from the Wright Brothers' first flight, and a photograph of English golfer Aaron Rai after he became the 2026 US PGA champion. The contents also include poems, letters from governors, Native American artwork, a superconducting material, and biological specimens from a whale and an eagle.
There is also a letter written by Michael Berilla, who led the team responsible for creating the capsule. 'Greetings from the living, breathing hearts and hands of 2026,' the letter begins. 'We will have long since returned to dust, but our devotion, pride and unwavering hope for what our world could become are alive right here inside this steel. We built this for you.'
Preservation and opening
The capsule will remain sealed for another 250 years, before being opened in 2276 to coincide with the United States' 500th birthday. Work on the project began in 2016, when Congress established the America250 Commission to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), preservation specialists from the Library of Congress and experts from the National Park Service all contributed to the effort. According to America250, states and territories were invited to submit items representing their unique histories and identities.
State contributions
The contributions vary widely. Maine submitted a bone from a North Atlantic right whale, one of the world's most endangered whale species, while Montana contributed a colorful beaded buffalo artwork created by an Arikara artist. Wisconsin's contribution is a feather from Old Abe, a bald eagle that accompanied Union soldiers during the American Civil War and later became a symbol of the state.
Alongside the state submissions are materials selected by the Library of Congress. The capsule is intended to provide a snapshot of American life, culture and aspirations in 2026 for those who may open it two and a half centuries from now.
