According to America250’s plan, America’s Time Capsule will be reopened in 2276.
The capsule was created as a long-term record of the United States during its Semiquincentennial year. It contains contributions representing federal institutions, the states and territories, and America250 programs. The project is intended to give people 250 years in the future a physical snapshot of American life in 2026.
America250 planned for the capsule to be buried at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026. Its scheduled opening in 2276 coincides with the 500th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s adoption in 1776.
The capsule’s timeline can be confusing because 2276 is not the 250th anniversary year; it is 250 years after the 2026 burial. The project therefore links three milestone dates: 1776, when independence was declared; 2026, the Semiquincentennial; and 2276, the planned opening year. The capsule’s contents are designed to preserve evidence of the nation’s institutions, communities, culture, and technology for future generations.