Inside the America 250 Time Capsule: Diamonds and Letters Revealed
WHO:
ABC News - The America250 commission is a nonpartisan group responsible for the time capsule.
AP News - Michael Berilla is the director of the fabrication technology office at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and led the design and construction of the capsule.
AP News - Tom Medema is a retired National Park Service official and project manager for the time capsule.
WHAT:
ABC News - The time capsule was sealed last week, marking the completion of years of design and construction.
AP News - The capsule is designed to be a cylinder rather than a box to prevent cracking and breaking.
AP News - The capsule will be covered with a secondary cylinder that traps air and pushes out water.
AP News - The items inside the capsule were maintained at 35% relative humidity to prevent degradation.
AP News - The capsule will be buried 10 feet below ground to protect it from temperature fluctuations and storm damage.
AP News - The National Park Service has included details about the capsule in its succession plans to ensure it is found in 2276.
AP News - A capstone with information about the capsule will cover the burial spot.
ABC News - The time capsule contains nearly 200 artifacts, including a signed pocket Constitution.
AP News - California submitted a prediction from an AI ChatBot about what the state will be like 250 years from July 4, 2026, stating that highways will be gone, grizzly bears will return, and the state will secede to form the "Pacific Federation" with Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.
ABC News - A 900-pound time capsule has been sealed and shipped to Philadelphia.
AP News - The time capsule will be buried on July 4, 2026, and will be dug up 250 years later in 2276.
AP News - The capsule contains contributions from all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, including hundreds of letters, postcards, posters, and poems.
AP News - Utah submitted 100 cards featuring historical citizens, 13 coins, eight documents, eight pins, two granite disks, and a booklet.
AP News - Arizona used nano-etching technology to inscribe the full text of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution on a stainless steel coin.
AP News - Maine submitted a bone from the endangered North Atlantic right whale, and Arkansas sent a diamond.
WHERE:
ABC News - The time capsule will be buried in Philadelphia.
AP News - The capsule will be buried 10 feet below ground in Philadelphia.
WHEN:
AP News - The time capsule will be buried on July 4, 2026.
AP News - The capsule will be dug up in 2276.
WHY:
AP News - The time capsule is part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, as mandated by a 2016 law.
HOW:
AP News - The capsule's design includes a secondary cylinder that will trap air and push out any approaching water, ensuring it remains watertight.
AP News - The capsule is designed to be watertight and airtight, with a secondary cylinder to trap air and push out water.
AP News - The items inside the capsule were maintained at 35% relative humidity to prevent degradation.
AP News - The capsule's design includes a soft metal rim that compresses under pressure to create a seal when closed.
(UPDATED June 16, 2026 21:52 UTC)
The time capsule, which was sealed last week, marks the culmination of years of design and construction. This uniquely designed cylinder aims to prevent cracking and breaking, and it will be buried ten feet underground to shield it from temperature fluctuations and storm damage. To ensure its discovery in 2276, the National Park Service has included details about the capsule in its succession plans, and a capstone will mark the burial spot with information about its contents.
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(UPDATED June 16, 2026 16:27 UTC)
A time capsule has been unveiled, containing nearly 200 artifacts, including a signed pocket Constitution. In a bold prediction, California has submitted a forecast from an AI ChatBot about the state's future, envisioning a world 250 years from July 4, 2026, where highways disappear, grizzly bears return, and the state secedes to form the "Pacific Federation" with Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. The capsule is designed with a secondary cylinder that will trap air and push out any approaching water, ensuring it remains watertight for generations to come.
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(UPDATED June 16, 2026 12:40 UTC)
A 900-pound time capsule has been sealed and is on its way to Philadelphia, where it will be buried ten feet underground on July 4, 2026, as part of the celebration for the 250th anniversary of American independence. The capsule, designed to be watertight and airtight, contains contributions from all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, including unique items like a bone from an endangered whale and a diamond from Arkansas. Michael Berilla, the director of the fabrication technology office at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, led the design and construction of this historic capsule, which will be dug up 250 years later in 2276.