A diamond from Arkansas, a whale bone from Maine, a New Mexican bolo tie, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max are among the items Americans in 250 years will remember today’s U.S. citizens by.
America250, the nonpartisan organization in charge of the country’s semiquincentennial celebrations, released the items that will be stored in its time capsule buried in Independence National Historical Park. The organization will seal the capsule on July 4 and bury the package in the park in Philadelphia with the intent that it will be reopened in another 250 years in 2276.
Items have been gifted to the capsule from all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, the five U.S. territories, the federal government, and partner organizations and businesses.
Besides the Arkansas diamond, New Mexican bolo tie, and Maine’s whale bone, many states contributed commemorative coins, letters from their state leaders, and poems. California included a written-out Claude artificial intelligence prediction of what the state would look like 250 years from the time the time capsule is buried. Louisiana, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands all included traditional necklaces or pendants worn by residents.
New Mexico also included a recipe card written by a state resident for the traditional way of baking the official state cookie, a biscochito. Puerto Rico included a rosary, and Utah included George Washington’s Lord’s Prayer gold medal. West Virginia held a statewide essay writing contest for its students, with the winner’s essay included in the capsule. Morgantown High School’s Alyssa Dalton won for her piece “Remembering our Foundation.”
In addition to all of the states and territories, pop culture companies and organizations such as Coca-Cola, national sports leagues, and Apple all contributed gifts. A Coca-Cola bottle, an iPhone, a 2026 Olympic Gold Medal, and the starting lineup card for the 2026 Opening Day game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers will all be in the capsule.
RODEO 250 ATTRACTION ANNOUNCED FOR GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR
Cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress will also include items, as will the Supreme Court. All 11 living past and present Supreme Court justices signed a copy of a pocket Constitution for the capsule.
Workers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology sealed the capsule last week, meaning all the items are finalized and ready to be opened in 2276.