A time capsule celebrating American independence has been sealed and will be buried in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026. The 900-pound cylinder contains contributions from the three branches of the federal government, many of the ongoing America 250 events and programs, and all 50 states, the five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
Design and Construction
The stainless steel capsule is shaped like a cylinder, not the typical box, because square edges tend to crack and break. It will be covered with a secondary cylinder that will trap air and push out any approaching water, and the capsule itself is rimmed with a soft metal that compresses under pressure.
The items inside were at 35% relative humidity. That’s moist enough to ensure they won’t dry out and disintegrate, but dry enough that they won’t create moisture problems. The capsule will be buried 10 feet below ground, safe from temperature fluctuations or storm damage.
Contents
Inside the capsule are hundreds of letters, postcards, posters, poems, and other printed material. Some states went all out, with Utah sending 100 cards featuring historical citizens, 13 coins, eight documents, eight pins, two granite disks, and a booklet. Arizona used nano-etching technology to put the full text of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution on a stainless steel coin.
Other submissions were more bare bones, literally. Maine’s submission included a bone from the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Arkansas sent a diamond. The variety was fascinating, said Tom Medema, a retired National Park Service official and project manager for the time capsule.
Looking Back and Ahead
This isn’t the first national time capsule tied to the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A ‘Century Safe’ filled in 1876 was opened by President Gerald Ford in 1976. That year in turn saw the creation of an official Bicentennial time capsule, which is stored at the National Archives and will be opened in 2076.
The America 250 capsule contains a photo of the team that built it and a letter written on their behalf. ‘Greetings from the living, breathing hearts and hands of 2026,’ the letter says. ‘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.’
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
