The United States has now marked its 250th anniversary, but one part of the celebration has only just begun. Beneath the ground in Philadelphia, a specially engineered time capsule has been buried with instructions that it should not be opened for another 250 years. Intended as a message to people living in 2276, it brings together objects and documents from across the country rather than focusing on a single version of American history. Every state, the District of Columbia, the five US territories and all three branches of the federal government contributed something, creating a collection that reflects different places, traditions and moments in time. The project took years to prepare, with equal attention given to preserving the contents and deciding what future generations might one day discover about life in 2026. Organisers hope the sealed archive will offer future citizens a detailed glimpse into the nation’s culture, achievements, challenges and everyday experiences during this historic period.
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