America250 Seals National Time Capsule for 2276 Recovery

The America250 Commission has sealed a 900-pound stainless steel time capsule to commemorate the semiquincentennial of the United States. Designed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in collaboration with the Library of Congress, the airtight and watertight vessel contains nearly 200 items. These include contributions from all 50 states, five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and the three branches of the federal government.

Notable artifacts inside the capsule include a pocket Constitution signed by Supreme Court justices, a diamond from Arkansas, a North Atlantic right whale bone from Maine, and AI-generated predictions from California. Other contributions include a letter from the Governor of Wyoming, an NFL commemorative coin, and a crystal from the 2026 New Year's Eve ball drop.

The capsule will be displayed in Philadelphia in early July before its burial on July 4, 2026, at Independence National Historical Park on Independence Mall. It will be placed 10 feet underground and is scheduled to remain closed until the nation's quincentennial in 2276. To ensure its recovery, the National Park Service has integrated the site details into official succession plans and will provide a capstone to mark the location.