The United States has buried a large time capsule in Philadelphia to mark the country’s 250th birthday. The capsule, which weighs 400 kilograms, was placed in the ground on July 4, 2026. It is located near Independence Hall, the historical building where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
The capsule is not supposed to be opened for another 250 years, in the year 2276. Rosie Rios, the chairwoman of America250, the organization behind the celebration, said they want to give future generations a clear and authentic look at what Americans valued, what they built, and who they were in 2026.
What is inside the capsule?
The capsule contains items from all 50 US states, five US territories, and various sports and cultural organizations. These items represent the history, culture, and modern life of the nation. Some of the objects include:
- A feather from Wisconsin: A brown feather from a famous bald eagle named "Old Abe." The eagle served as a mascot for Union soldiers during the American Civil War.
- Airplane fabric from Ohio: A piece of cloth from the wings of the Wright brothers' historic 1903 airplane, which made the first powered flight in history.
- A whale bone from Maine: A bone from an endangered North Atlantic right whale.
- An AI prediction from California: A printout of a prediction written by the artificial intelligence chatbot Claude about what California will look like in 250 years.
- Modern technology: An orange iPhone contributed by the America250 organization.
- Cultural items: A bookmark made by the Wabanaki Native American tribe, a diamond from Arkansas, a recipe for anis-flavored cookies from New Mexico, and an NBA championship pin from the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team.
Some ideas were rejected. For example, organizers decided not to include a leather football because they were worried it would not last 250 years underground.
Designing the capsule
Jay Nanninga, an engineer at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, designed the container. He chose a stainless steel cylinder to avoid seams and joints, which can let moisture inside.
To protect the items, the cylinder is sealed with a soft metal called indium. It is also placed inside a metallic bell that creates a dry air pocket around the capsule to keep water out. Inside the cylinder, paper documents are sealed in a separate compartment, and other objects are stored in cardboard boxes.
Other time capsules
The US has buried time capsules before. A capsule buried in 1876 was opened in 1976. Another capsule from the 1976 celebration is currently kept at the US National Archives and will be opened in 2076. There is also another capsule in Washington that will remain closed until the United States turns 500 years old.