America250’s time capsule is scheduled to be unearthed in 2276.
The capsule was prepared for burial in Philadelphia as part of the United States Semiquincentennial observance. Its planned opening date is July 4, 2276, exactly 250 years after the 2026 anniversary and 500 years after the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
The project follows a long tradition of placing objects, documents, and messages underground for future generations. Unlike a short-term exhibit, this capsule is designed to connect the 2026 celebration with the nation’s eventual 500th anniversary.
The year 2276 is a scheduled date, not a claim that the capsule must be opened then under every circumstance. It is also easy to confuse the opening year with 2026, the year of burial, or 1776, the year associated with American independence.