To mark the celebration of America’s 250th birthday this year, a time capsule will be buried on July 4 at Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia — and it won’t be opened until the year 2276.
Inside America’s Time Capsule are carefully curated contributions from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., five U.S. territories, all three branches of federal government, as well as select partners like Coca-Cola and Apple whose “contributions reflect the people, places, ideas, and innovations shaping the United States at 250 years,” according to the America250 website.
America250 is the nonpartisan commission appointed by Congress to organize the July 4 time capsule celebrations and the collection of artifacts and relics. Submissions could not contain anything that could degrade, rot or rust over the next 250 years. (Maine’s bid to submit Old Bay seasoning was rejected due to these guidelines.)
Below are some of the items included in the time capsule that’s now sealed and ready to be buried on Independence Day.
Arizona: A commemorative copper ingot with a stamped Arizona America250 logo by design contest winner Riley Hammett.

Arizona copper ingot.
(America250)
Arkansas: A diamond found at Crater of Diamonds State Park, which is the only place in the U.S. where people can search for and keep any diamonds they find.
California: A Claude AI prediction on archival paper of what California will be like in 250 years, including that it will no longer be a state, but part of a Pacific Federation with Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
Colorado: A coin observing the combined celebrations of Colorado’s 150th anniversary of statehood and America’s 250th birthday. The front features the state’s anniversary logo, and the back reads “Sesquisemiquincentennial,” the state’s bespoke term for the joint celebrations.
The District of Columbia: A challenge coin with “Washington, D.C. 250” on one side and a building with flags and Mayor Muriel Bowser’s name on the other.

Washington, D.C., mayoral challenge coin.
(America250)
Guam: A Gualofan ornament pendant, which has become a “modern expression of Chamorro identity.” The pendant is made from the Spondylus shell and represents the full moon.

A Gualofan ornament pendant from Guam.
(America250)
Idaho: A star garnet, which is the state’s official gemstone, to highlight the state’s geological heritage. It’s found only in Idaho and one other place in the world.

Idaho star garnet.
(America250)
Iowa: Astronaut Peggy Whitson’s International Space Station medal, which commemorates her leadership as the first woman to command the ISS.

Iowa International Space Station medallion.
(America250)
Maine: A whale bone from the North Atlantic right whale. It’s one of the world’s most endangered whale species.

Maine whale bone.
(America250)
Massachusetts: A set of three archival prints, including one of the Boston Massacre, a letter from John Hancock to the state’s general court and a letter from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin to the Massachusetts Council.

Massachusetts archival prints.
(America250)
Michigan: A Petoskey stone, which became the state stone in 1965. It’s native to the shores of Lake Michigan and it formed nearly 350 million years ago.

A Petosky stone from Michigan.
(America250)
Montana: A beaded artwork created by an Arikara artist that represents the state’s landscapes and cultural heritage.

Montana beaded vignette
(America250)
New Mexico: The bolo tie, designated the official state tie, holds a significant place in the culture of the Southwest.

A silver-and-turquoise bolo tie from New Mexico.
(America250)
Ohio: Fabric from the historic Wright Brothers’ flight, honoring the state’s connection to the birth of aviation.

Ohio fabric from the Wright brothers’ famous flight.
(America250)
Utah: A prayer medal given out upon the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869.

A Utah prayer medal.
(America250)
Wisconsin: An eagle feather from Old Abe, an American bald eagle who served with the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

An eagle feather from Wisconsin.
(America250)
See the full list of items from each state and territory on the America250 website.




