America Is Burying a Time Capsule on July 4 — and It Won't Be Opened Until 2276
On July 4, a 900-pound steel cylinder will be buried 10 feet underground in Philadelphia — not to be opened until 2276, when Americans will mark the country's 500th birthday. The time capsule, mandated by a 2016 law creating the nonpartisan America250 commission, was sealed shut last week after years of design work, construction and the careful collection of items from across the country.
Built to Last 250 Years
The capsule was designed and built by the fabrication technology office at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the Department of Commerce. Michael Berilla, who led the project, said the team's central engineering challenge was water.
The stainless steel capsule is cylindrical — not box-shaped — because square edges tend to crack and fail over time. A secondary outer cylinder will trap air and push away any approaching moisture, and the capsule's lid is rimmed with a soft metal that compresses to create an airtight, watertight seal when closed.
The items inside were stored at 35% relative humidity — moist enough to prevent materials from drying out and disintegrating, but dry enough to prevent moisture buildup. At 10 feet underground, the capsule will be insulated from temperature swings and storm damage.
"Philadelphia would have to be six feet underwater in order for this time capsule to even possibly take on water," Berilla said. "And if Philly is six feet underwater, you've got way bigger problems in the world."
What's Inside
The capsule contains contributions from all three branches of the federal government, all 50 states, the five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and various ongoing America250 programs. Most contents are housed in small archival boxes, with paper documents in a separate compartment. Archival-quality paper was a popular choice — states submitted letters, postcards, posters, poems and printed materials by the hundreds.
The submissions ranged from the sentimental to the genuinely strange. New Hampshire sent a brochure tracing its Revolutionary War history. California submitted an AI-generated prediction of the state in 2276 — which forecast the return of grizzly bears, the disappearance of highways, and California seceding to join Oregon, Washington and British Columbia in something called the "Pacific Federation."
Utah went big: 100 cards featuring historical figures, 13 coins, eight documents, eight pins, two granite disks and a booklet. Arizona used nano-etching technology to inscribe the full text of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution onto a stainless steel coin. Maine included a bone from the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Arkansas sent a diamond.
Not everything made the cut. Maryland's submission of Old Bay seasoning was rejected — anything that might degrade over time or rust was forbidden. Native American beaded artwork backed by elk hide had to be resubmitted on a fabric backing.
A Line of Capsules
This isn't the first time the country has marked a major anniversary by burying a container of artifacts. A "Century Safe" filled in 1876 was opened by President Gerald Ford in 1976. That centennial year also produced an official Bicentennial time capsule now stored at the National Archives, set to be opened in 2076. A separate capsule is currently being prepared for the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center.
To make sure the America250 capsule is actually found in 250 years, the National Park Service has incorporated its location into official succession plans intended to be passed down through time. A capstone marking the burial site will be installed above it.
A Message to the Future
Tom Medema, a retired National Park Service official who served as project manager, said the variety of submissions was part of what made the project meaningful. "I'm glad there wasn't really a prescription for it," he said. "In the end, it was just up to them to represent themselves."
The capsule also contains a photo of the NIST team that built it and a letter Berilla wrote on their behalf. "Greetings from the living, breathing hearts and hands of 2026," he wrote. "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."
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