UMVA has learned that a massive steel time capsule, aptly named America's Time Capsule, is set to be buried in Philadelphia as part of the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations.
This extraordinary capsule contains hundreds of artifacts, documents, and cultural treasures that showcase American life, culture, and aspirations in 2026. The archive was commissioned by Congress and will be interred on July 4, exactly 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
The capsule's contents are a fascinating reflection of American history and culture. Items include bottles of Coke, fabric from the Wright Brothers' first flight, and a photograph of English golfer Aaron Rai after he became the 2026 US PGA champion. A feather from Old Abe, an American bald eagle who served with the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War, is also included.
Among the many other items are poems, letters from governors, Native American artwork, a superconducting material, and biological specimens from a whale and an eagle. A letter written by Michael Berilla, who led the team responsible for creating the capsule, reads: "Greetings from the living, breathing hearts and hands of 2026. 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."
The capsule will remain sealed for another 250 years, before being opened in 2276 to coincide with the United States' 500th birthday. The project began in 2016, when Congress established the America250 Commission to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
States and territories were invited to submit items representing their unique histories and identities. The contributions vary widely, with Maine submitting a bone from a North Atlantic right whale and Montana contributing a colorful beaded buffalo artwork created by an Arikara artist. Wisconsin's contribution is a feather from Old Abe, a bald eagle that accompanied Union soldiers during the American Civil War.
The capsule also includes a pocket copy of the US constitution signed by the current Supreme Court justices. Coca-Cola donated a 'message in a bottle' with a lyrics sheet for their song, 'I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke' inside a Coke bottle. These items, and many more, provide a snapshot of American life, culture, and aspirations in 2026 for those who may open the capsule two and a half centuries from now.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, preservation specialists from the Library of Congress, and experts from the National Park Service all contributed to the effort. Their work ensures that the capsule will preserve American history and culture for future generations.
