America250 Officially Seals “America’s Time Capsule” and Reveals Final Contents Ahead of July 4 Burial in Philadelphia

Contents include contributions from all three branches of government, all 56 states and territories, and America250 programs and partners, representing America’s Semiquincentennial year

Capsule will be buried at Independence National Historical Park on July 4, 2026 and reopened in 2276

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--America250, the national, nonpartisan organization charged by Congress with leading the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, today announced that “America’s Time Capsule” has been officially sealed and revealed the full collection of items that will be preserved inside the capsule for the next 250 years. Established in America250’s founding public law, the Time Capsule reflects a national responsibility to preserve a representative record of the United States at 250 years.

The capsule was sealed last week at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Md., marking the completion of the vessel's fabrication. Inside it are contributions from all three branches of the U.S. federal government, all 50 states, Washington, DC and five U.S. territories, America250 tentpole programs such as America’s Field Trip, as well as select national partners and institutions whose contributions reflect the people, places, ideas, and innovations shaping the United States at 250 years.

“Now that America’s Time Capsule has been sealed, it carries with it a remarkable record of this moment in our nation’s history,” said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250. “This moment is as much about the future as it is the past. When it is opened in 2276, future generations will see the care, pride, and optimism with which Americans marked our 250th anniversary.”

Built, Filled, and Sealed for Long-Term Preservation

America’s Time Capsule was developed in collaboration with scientists at NIST, preservation experts at the Library of Congress, and in coordination with the National Park Service. It was built at NIST’s technology fabrication shop in Gaithersburg, Md.

The design features a 900-pound, precision-milled stainless steel cylinder with a water- and airtight compression seal made of indium, a soft metal that deforms when compressed to fill any microscopic imperfections in the sealing groove. When buried, it will be covered with a 1,100-pound stainless steel bell jar to create a protective air pocket around the vessel, ensuring that it remains dry during its 250 years underground. More details on its design can be found here.

The Library of Congress was instrumental in specifying the types of materials that could or could not be included in the vessel to maintain its integrity and preserve its full contents for 250 years. The Library’s experts meticulously reviewed items before they were approved to go inside.

The National Park Service, in partnership with the Independence Historical Trust, will oversee the capsule’s placement and incorporate its eventual opening into official park management records.

What’s Inside America’s Time Capsule

The items preserved within America’s Time Capsule include letters, artifacts, records, and objects selected to help tell the story of the United States at the Semiquincentennial. Some content was selected by America250 to represent its national programming. The majority of contents are from the country’s 56 states, DC, and territories. America250 worked closely with each to establish their own commissions and put out a call to these Commissions to determine which items should represent them, making this a truly grassroots effort. Most contents will be placed within 6” x 4” x 2” archival boxes. Paper documents will be preserved within a separate compartment inside the capsule.

Contributions range from handwritten letters and civic records to cultural artifacts, scientific innovations, sports memorabilia, and items representing the everyday life of Americans across the country. Some of the items are curated from America250 tentpole programs, including America’s Field Trip, such as student artwork and essay submissions, and America Waves.

Among the most innovative contributions is the Library of Congress’s molecular data storage device, a tiny metal vial about the length of a pencil eraser, containing synthetic DNA encoded with digital copies of selected Library collection items. This cutting-edge device includes digitized historic collection items, such as Thomas Jefferson’s rough draft of the Declaration of Independence; Francis Scott Key’s handwritten lyrics for “The Star-Spangled Banner;” an 1898 audio recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by John Philip Sousa’s band; a 3D rendering of President Abraham Lincoln’s hand; the 1791 L’Enfant Plan for Washington, D.C.; the Codex Quetzalecatzin and other rare digitized materials from the Library’s collections.

Additional select contents include:

• Contributions from all 50 states, Washington, DC, and five U.S. territories, each offering a distinct record of local history, identity, culture, innovation, and community life in 2026.
• Items from Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Executive Branch, reflecting the institutions of American democracy at the nation’s 250-year milestone.
• Student submissions from America250’s America’s Field Trip contest, preserving the voices and perspectives of young people reflecting on the question, “What does America mean to you?”
• A handheld commemorative American flag from the 2026 Rose Parade, representing Americans across the country joining together in commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary and the more than 73K flags America250 has distributed through its America Waves program.
• A Coca-Cola glass-contour bottle housing commemorative artifacts, including a preserved copy of the sheet music for “I’d Like to Buy America a Coke,” one of the songs in America’s Soundtrack. The artifacts evoke a “message in a bottle” and reflect the brand’s enduring role in bringing people together through shared moments across generations of American life.
• An iPhone 17 Pro Max, included through America250’s America Innovates initiative, representing the cutting edge of American innovation and technology in 2026. The device showcases advances in handheld computing, imaging, and connectivity that have transformed how people work, communicate, and create in the 21st century.
• One-of-a-kind sports memorabilia from national sporting league partners, including a coin from the 2026 NFL playoffs, a photo of the 2026 PGA champion, and the starting lineup from the 2026 season-opening Phillies/Rangers game. Personal letters from the Commissioners of the NBA, NHL, and MLB will powerfully reflect the role of sports in American culture and community.
• For a full list of contents and photos, please visit https://america250.org/time-capsule/contents/

“The Library of Congress is responsible for preserving the nation’s memory, and this contribution brings that mission into the future,” said Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen. “By placing some of our most treasured digitized collections into synthetic DNA, we are helping ensure that future generations can encounter foundational pieces of American history in a form designed to endure for centuries.”

A National Record for 2276

Established in America250’s founding public law, America’s Time Capsule is the official, congressionally mandated national time capsule representing the federal Commission and the full federation of states and territories.

The capsule is part of America250’s broader mission to engage 350 million Americans in the Semiquincentennial commemoration and invite people across the country to reflect on the nation’s past, present, and future.

“As Commissioners, we have a responsibility to help ensure the Semiquincentennial is celebrated and commemorated in a way that is enduring and true to the scale of this national milestone,” said Cathy Gillespie, Vice Chair of America250 and America250 Commissioner. “America’s Time Capsule helps fulfill that responsibility by bringing together contributions from every state and territory, federal institutions, partners, and national programs into one shared record for future generations.”

Additional information, photos and a full list of contents are available at https://america250.org/time-capsule/contents/.

About America250

America250 is the national nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in celebrating and commemorating the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is spearheaded by the congressionally-appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and its sole-supporting nonprofit organization, America250.org, Inc., together known as America250. This multi-year effort kicked off with America’s Invitation on July 4, 2023: a national public engagement campaign inviting all Americans to share their stories and their hopes and dreams for the future of this country. Leading up to July 4, 2026, America250 is working to provide opportunities for all Americans to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look to the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. To learn more, visit America250.org, and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok.