BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana America 250 Commission has submitted letters, artifacts and commemorative items to the national America250 Time Capsule, which is scheduled to be buried July 4 at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.
The time capsule, a 900-pound stainless steel cylinder designed to be water- and airtight, was sealed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It will remain unopened until 2276, marking the 500th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Louisiana was among the more active contributors to the national project, which includes submissions from all states, U.S. territories and branches of government.
Commission Chairman Mike Bayham said the state’s contributions were selected to reflect daily life and cultural identity in 2026. “Those who will be looking at these items and reading messages from 2026 would find how we lived to be of interest,” Bayham said.
Items submitted by Louisiana include Mardi Gras-themed Bacchus beads from an America 250 parade, commemorative lapel pins, a Louisiana America 250 doubloon and a miniature print of the commission’s official poster created by Lake Charles artist Candice Alexander.
The submission also includes letters from elected officials such as U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Gov. Jeff Landry and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, along with a copy of a legislative resolution encouraging the planting of “Liberty Trees” across all 64 parishes.
Additional contributions include messages from public figures, educators, religious leaders, military veterans and residents, offering perspectives on American life and the nation’s future.
The national time capsule initiative is part of broader efforts tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary, aimed at preserving contemporary records for future generations.