Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
America's Time Capsule
America250 time capsule (left) and the bell jar that fits on top of it shown in the National Institute of Standards and Technology machine shop where they were created, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 2026. The bell jar will trap a pocket of air that will surround the capsule and protect it from water in case of flooding or if the water table at the burial site rises. Together, the two pieces weigh approximately one ton.
What Is in America’s Time Capsule?
Time capsules preserve a snapshot of history for future generations, capturing the people, culture, and achievements of an era—often in honor of an important milestone. For centuries they have served as a tangible connection between generations, inviting those who open them to discover and explore the lives of their predecessors.
In anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, in July 2016 the U.S. Congress established the United States Semiquincentennial Commission and authorized the creation of a national time capsule to be filled with “books, manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memorabilia, relics, and other materials relating to the United States Semiquincentennial.” Together these materials aim to document who and what America was at 250 years old.
America250, an initiative led by the Semiquincentennial Commission and the nonprofit America250.org, gathered a curated collection of materials from all three branches of the federal government, the U.S. states and territories, and national partner organizations for America’s Time Capsule. Sealed in early June 2026 and dedicated on June 24, the time capsule was buried at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park on July 4. Its location will be marked by a new sculpture inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s iconic “Join, or Die” illustration, first published in The Pennsylvania Gazette in 1754 and widely regarded as America’s first political cartoon.
Discover how ordinary objects work, and expand your understanding of the familiar.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
By clicking "Sign Up", you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
The items listed below reflect the people, history, natural environment, innovation, culture, and diversity of the United States. America’s Time Capsule is scheduled to be reopened on July 4, 2276, as the United States celebrates its 500th anniversary.
State and territory contributions
| state/territory | item |
|---|---|
| Alabama | America: A Quintet of Poems, a commissioned series of poems by poet and critic James Matthew Wilson |
| Alaska | map of New Archangel (now Sitka), Alaska, c. 1867, the time of the Alaska Purchase; archival copy of the original flag of Alaska design, c. 1927, created by teenager Benny Benson |
| American Samoa | 2009 and 2010 quarters featuring images of American Samoa on the reverse |
| Arizona | commemorative copper ingot with a design by contest-winner Riley Hammett of Jerome, Arizona; another copper ingot inscribed with the shape of the outline of the state; 2008 quarter with images of Arizona on the reverse; two commemorative challenge coins; letter from Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes; letter documenting the members of the Arizona America250 Commission |
| Arkansas | letter from Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders; diamond found at Crater of Diamonds State Park, Murfreesboro, Arkansas |
| California | letter from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom; fusion superconductor manufactured in San Diego; California American Innovation $1 coin; “My California,” poem by Lee Herrick, poet laureate of California; NASA photograph of California taken from space on January 23, 2022; printout of Claude AI’s response to the prompt: “Write me a prediction of what California will be like 250 years from July 4, 2026”; qubit chip from the University of California, Berkeley |
| Colorado | proclamation from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis; America 250–Colorado 150 Commission commemorative coin; Colorado-connected currency including quarters with Colorado-themed designs and pennies pressed at the Denver Mint in 2022; postcards featuring aspects of life in Colorado in 2026 |
| Connecticut | proclamation from the state of Connecticut; America 250 Connecticut commemorative lapel pin, set of four stickers, and planning and events guide; graphic note cards with themes chosen by the Connecticut planning commission |
| Delaware | set of 12 note cards featuring citizens’ writings and drawings that answer the prompt “To me Delaware is…” |
| Florida | set of four challenge coins representing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Florida governmental agencies and individuals; letter and pin from the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives; 2024–26 Florida Senate booklet; America250FL booklet detailing Florida’s semiquincentennial celebrations |
| Georgia | set of two Fort Moore Georgia Award for Excellence challenge coins; medallion featuring the Masters golf tournament logo |
| Guam | letter from Guam Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero and Lieut. Gov. Joshua F. Tenorio; a Gualofan pendant—a traditional Chamorro body ornament worn to express Chamorro identity; Guam governor challenge coin |
| Hawaii | letter from Hawaii Gov. Josh Green; Hawaii governor challenge coin |
| Idaho | letter from Idaho Gov. Brad Little; Idaho star garnet, the state’s official gemstone |
| Illinois | letter from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker; poem “Dear New Blood,” written for Erilaz Lucien Asiginaak Turcotte by Mark Turcotte, poet laureate of Illinois |
| Indiana | Indiana 250 annual report |
| Iowa | letter from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds; 1914 Belgian relief coin sold by a charity led by future U.S. Pres. Herbert Hoover to fund international food relief efforts following World War I; medal commemorating the leadership of astronaut Peggy Whitson, the first woman to command the International Space Station |
| Kansas | document identifying the members of the Kansas 250 Commission and relevant news items from 2026 |
| Kentucky | commemorative coin issued by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution; poem “History” written by Richard Taylor, former poet laureate of Kentucky |
| Louisiana | letters from Louisiana Gov. Jeffrey Landry, Lieut. Gov. Billy Nungesser, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, and the Louisiana America 250 Commission; set of commemorative pins; Louisiana America 250 challenge coin and commemorative poster; collection of note cards written by prominent Louisiana citizens; Louisiana House Resolution No. 351 commending the Sons of the American Revolution; necklace with Krewe of Bacchus (Mardi Gras social club) pendant and glass beads |
| Maine | letter from Maine Gov. Janet Mills; poem “This Home We Carry,” written by Julia Bouwsma, poet laureate of Maine, for the second inauguration of Governor Mills; bone from a North Atlantic right whale; postcards featuring maps of Maine from the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education in Portland, Maine; Wabanaki woven bookmark |
| Maryland | Maryland governor’s challenge coin; July 2023 executive order of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore forming the Maryland 250 Commission |
| Massachusetts | letter from Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Lieut. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and the Massachusetts 250 Commission cochairs; archival prints—illustration of the Boston Massacre and letters from John Hancock, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin; 250th Anniversary Evacuation Day medallion |
| Michigan | letter from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Petoskey stone, the Michigan state stone; piece of float copper; Michigan Innovation $1 coin |
| Minnesota | executive order from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz creating the Minnesota America 250 Commission; flag of Minnesota |
| Mississippi | letter from Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves; set of four brass coins commemorating the birthplace of American music, the country’s largest rocket engine test site, voices of American literature, and the agricultural contributions of Gulf Coast waters |
| Missouri | letter from Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe; governor of Missouri challenge coin |
| Montana | beaded artwork created by an artist of Crow, Hidatsa, and Arikara ancestry |
| Nebraska | photograph of a pair of vice-grip pliers; set of two 2006 Nebraska state quarters; set of three 2015 Homestead National Monument of America quarters; poem “Home of Our Lands,” written by Jewel Rogers, state poet of Nebraska; set of postcards depicting life in Nebraska since 1776 |
| Nevada | document explaining why Nevada is known as the “Battle Born State”; Nevada State Museum commemorative coin; set of gambling chips and tokens |
| New Hampshire | image of the center emblem of a flag carried by the Second New Hampshire Regiment of the Continental Army; brochure describing 2026 events organized by the New Hampshire Historical Society to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary; poster of events scheduled for July 4, 2026, in Concord, New Hampshire |
| New Jersey | plaque inscribed with the New Jersey state motto—“Liberty and Prosperity”—in eight languages |
| New Mexico | letter from New Mexico Gov. Michelle Luján Grisham and governor of New Mexico challenge coin; metal relief carving of the map of New Mexico; Route 66 centennial challenge coin; set of pins; seed pot created by Mae Suazo Tapia of Santa Clara Pueblo; vial of sand from White Sands National Park; red chile tile created by Mexican American artist Jennell Juarez; sterling silver squash blossom necklace crafted by Navajo silversmith Harrison Yazzie; bolo tie, the official state tie of New Mexico, in the shape of the state; booklet containing New Mexico’s 2026 constitution, sheet music in English and Spanish for “O, Fair New Mexico” (the state song), state pledge, and poem “The Land Remembers,” by New Mexico poet laureate Manuel González; recipe card for biscochito, the state cookie |
| New York | America 250 New York commemorative coin; reflection document |
| North Carolina | first page of North Carolina poet laureate Jaki Shelton Green’s official poem for North Carolina’s America 250 commemoration; copper disk etched by artist Robert Steinbeiser of Raleigh, North Carolina, with an image of the North Carolina State Capitol building |
| North Dakota | summary of the 2026 North Dakota State of the State address; coin commemorating the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota |
| Northern Mariana Islands | letter from Northern Mariana Islands Gov. David M. Apatang; Carolinian lighatúttúr, a hand-woven beaded necklace representing the artistry of the Carolinian community; a Chamorro sinåhi, a symbol of Chamorro culture and identity |
| Ohio | 2026 Ohio State of the State address; coin commemorating Ohio’s participation in America250; fabric from the Wright brothers’ 1903 flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; America250 and Heart of It All lapel pins; commemorative coins for the governorship of Mike DeWine, the Underground Railroad, and Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, a UNESCO World Heritage site |
| Oklahoma | proclamation designating July 4, 2026, as Oklahoma Semiquincentennial Day; belt buckle featuring symbols of Oklahoma; Oklahoma City Thunder 2025 NBA championship pin; photograph taken by Oklahoma City Thunder photographer Jimmy Do during the NBA champions parade on June 24, 2025; Oklahoma National Guard challenge coin; Route 66 centennial coin; First Americans Museum button |
| Oregon | “She Who Watches” (Native name Tsagaglalal) pin crafted by Native American artist Lillian Pitt |
| Pennsylvania | letter from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro; American 250 PA Highlights booklet |
| Puerto Rico | letter and note card from Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer A. González-Colón; stainless steel rosary; Puerto Rico Coat of Arms pin; series of note cards depicting historic and cultural themes from Puerto Rico; America250 Puerto Rico coin |
| Rhode Island | letter from Rhode Island’s America250 commission; RI250 Honor Flight challenge coin; First Rhode Island Regiment holiday ornament |
| South Carolina | SC250 challenge coin and pin |
| South Dakota | letter from South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden; special edition of the poem “This Far Country” by Joseph Bottum, illustrated by Jeanne Bowman and designed by Angela Corbo Gier |
| Tennessee | Tennessee’s Original Frontier poster highlighting key events in Tennessee history |
| Texas | Texas state seal glass paperweight; Lone Star flag and state seal design for the Republic of Texas; Republic of Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico, adopted on March 2, 1836 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | letter from U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr. |
| Utah | set of eight documents, including Utah governmental bodies’ celebration of the America250 time capsule, a list of federally recognized tribes, an illustration of the historic and contemporary flags of Utah, and the Utah commission of the 250th anniversary; Red Warrior Mining Company shares certificate; tourist attraction and amusement park tickets; set of nine coins representing government officials and organizations; set of coins from 1896, 2007, 2014, and 2024; 1916–2016 Utah Capitol cornerstone; 1853–93 Salt Lake Temple stone; set of eight commemorative pins; George Washington Lord’s Prayer gold medal given out at the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869; set of cards featuring key figures in Utah’s history; 2026 Utah legislative guide |
| Vermont | ornaments from four Vermont state historic sites: Mount Independence, Hubbardton Battlefield, Old Constitution House, and Bennington Battle Monument |
| Virginia | “America, Made in Virginia” challenge coin |
| Washington | proclamation issued by Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson; letter from Washington Lieut. Gov. Denny Heck |
| Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser challenge coin |
| West Virginia | “Remembering Our Foundation,” an essay written by high school student Alyssa Dalton, winner of a statewide essay contest; 384N Nano Water Bottle and West Virginia suncatcher, both crafted by Blenko Glass Company in Milton, West Virginia |
| Wisconsin | set of letters from Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and five other state officials; feather from and photograph of Old Abe, an American bald eagle that served in the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War; Harley Owners Group 2026 Ride challenge coin; Forest County Potawatomi community key chain; Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., pin; Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs pin; Waaswaaganing Zhimaaganishag patch; set of 11 cards, each featuring the seal of a Wisconsin nation, Native community, or Indigenous people |
| Wyoming | letter from Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon |
America250 and partner organizations contributions
| organization | item |
|---|---|
| America250 | 2016 Semiquincentennial Act signed by congressional leadership; items from the May 2026 Semiquincentennial Commission meeting in Philadelphia, including an agenda and photographs of the commissioner and America250 staff; press release announcing the appointment of presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, along with first ladies Laura Bush and Michelle Obama, as honorary co-chairs of the Semiquincentennial Commission; op-ed written by Commission Chair Rosie Rios on the importance of the America250 Giving 4th initiative; letter from America250 leadership; U.S. flag flown at the 2026 Rose Parade as part of the America Waves initiative; reports from the America’s Field Trip, America Gives, Our American Story, America’s Startup, and America Innovates programs; items related to the America’s Soundtrack initiative, including the conductor’s score for American Promise, a work by Karen LeFrak, and a Coke bottle with the lyrics for the song “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke”; a circular cut crystal from New York City’s New Year’s Eve 2026 ball drop; America250 challenge coins, pins, and commemorative coin; documentary photograph of the time capsule site development; photograph of the team at Archival Arts, Inc., the Halethorpe, Maryland, firm that printed all the archival documents stored in the capsule |
| International Olympic Committee and the NBC Today show | gold medal from the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and collectible Olympic pins |
| Library of Congress | 1-gigabyte digital archive of historic documents and audio files; note cards completed by student visitors to the Library of Congress answering the prompt “What do you want kids in the future to know about?” |
| Major League Baseball (MLB) | letter from MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred, Jr.; copy of the March 26, 2026, opening day lineup card for a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers |
| National Basketball Association (NBA) | letter from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver |
| National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) | copy of the NEA 2025 National Heritage Fellows Program book |
| National Football League (NFL) | replica of the NFL/America250 coin used for the coin toss during the 2026 NFL playoff games |
| National Hockey League (NHL) | letter from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman; two photographs from 2026 NHL Stadium Series games |
| National Institute of Standards and Technology | team photograph and letter from the lead engineer of the engineering team that built the time capsule, bell jar, and its interior containers |
| PGA of America | divot tool from the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; photograph of 2026 PGA Champion Aaron Rai and caddy Jason Timmis posing with the championship trophy |
| PGA Tour | copy of the 2026 PGA Tour schedule; copy of 2026 Players Championship scorecard of tournament champion Cameron Young |
| Smithsonian Institution | letter from Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie Bunch; sample of smithsonite, a zinc carbonate mineral named to honor English scientist James Smithson, whose bequest founded the Smithsonian Institution; May 2026 Museum of American History Board of Directors program |
| Supreme Court of the United States | print of the cover and signature page of a pocket Constitution signed by 11 past and present justices of the Supreme Court |