Congress buried a time capsule just feet from Independence Hall in Philadelphia this week, sealing artifacts from all 50 states and six U.S. territories until the year 2276 — America’s 500th birthday.
The ceremony marked the nation’s 250th anniversary at the same ground where the Founders finalized the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago.
“Our responsibility is not simply to remember what happened here on these grounds. But to preserve those same ideals of whose generation came before and that will come after us,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., who traveled with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to Philadelphia for the occasion.
“The Congressional time capsule is a reflection of our faith in the future of this grand experiment in self-governance.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called the time capsule “a reflection of our faith in the future of this grand experiment in self-governance.” He added, “When this capsule is finally opened, those Americans will be as distant from us as we are today from the men who signed their names on our declaration.”
The stainless steel capsule contains letters from Congressional leaders and commissioners of major sports leagues — including MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, whose words will remain a mystery until 2276.
The capsule includes a piece of metal from the Freedom Tower, representing both the tragedy of 9/11 and America’s resilience.
“We have a piece of metal from the Freedom Tower that obviously represents both the struggle initially and what happened on September 11th. But then ultimately, the resilience of rising from the ashes, as America has always done,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
Other contents reveal what America values today: Georgia donated a Masters Golf Tournament medallion and a vintage glass Coca-Cola bottle. California included an AI prompt from the chatbot Claude, asking what the country would be like in 250 years — the response sealed inside.
One of the largest items is a piece of bone from a North Atlantic Right Whale, one of the most-endangered large whale species. New Mexico contributed bolo ties, culturally important apparel in the Southwest. There’s also an Olympic Gold medal won by an American athlete at the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina earlier this year, and an Apple iPhone.
Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Penn., who represents Independence Mall where the capsule is buried, pushed for a Joint Session of Congress in Philadelphia to mark the anniversary — though that didn’t happen. Lawmakers did convene in Philadelphia in 1987 for the Constitution’s 200th anniversary.
“The 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence were signing their death forms. After all, they knew what they faced had they not succeeded,” Boyle said.
Michael Berilla with the National Institute of Standards and Technology warned that time itself is the capsule’s biggest enemy. “Of the longer generation time capsules, water has destroyed most of them. Time has destroyed many others and things get lost or the items inside react,” he said.
That’s why they didn’t include a football — the leather would degrade over 250 years.
The hope is that the time capsule at Independence Hall doesn’t fail. And that the country doesn’t fail either. That way, people can gather on the green by Independence Hall in 2276 and see the treasures sent from the past — maybe while devouring a cheesesteak, if those are still a Philadelphia delicacy.
