A special time capsule containing items from all 50 U.S. states and five territories is being buried in Philadelphia as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The capsule is intended to remain sealed until July 4, 2276, when the nation marks its 500th anniversary.
The burial ceremony was held at Independence Mall, where an art installation inspired by Ben Franklin’s “Join or Die” cartoon will stand above the site.
The occasion drew emotional reactions from visitors attending the ceremony.
“Full of emotions, really, just thinking about 250 years from now what the city’s going to look like, what Philadelphia’s going to look like,” said Johnathan Weissman, who attended with his daughter.
“The meaning behind it, for future generations, it’s just so meaningful,” said Delsea Duffer, who was visiting from Atlanta.
The capsule includes a Philadelphia Phillies lineup card, a letter from Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Pennsylvania history booklet, a stainless steel plaque from New Jersey, and handwritten notes from 12 Delaware residents. Built to resist water, the capsule has been designed to preserve its contents for the next two and a half centuries.
