WASHINGTON — Soon to be locked into a new time capsule, tucked away for a century: a cell phone, GI dog tags, a color photo of the Eagle Nebulae taken by the Hubble space telescope, a recording of the sound of Louis Armstrong's trumpet and a chunk of concrete President Reagan chiseled out of the Berlin Wall.
The National Millennium Time Capsule, made of steel, copper and titanium, is to be packed, sealed and stored in a secure, climate-controlled room under the safekeeping of the National Archives, storehouse of the nation's records.
Two exhibit cases full of artifacts that will go into the time capsule went on display Wednesday at the National Archives in a ceremony at the archives' Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters.
"I hope this time capsule will stand as a reminder in 100 years of what we valued, what we believed in and what we created and what our children hoped for at this particular point in American history," said first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The first lady, who launched the time capsule project on the last day of 1999, contributed one policy book by President Clinton, a volume on White House entertaining by herself, and "Saving America's Treasures," a new book that describes historic preservation efforts across the country, a cause Hillary Clinton has championed.
On behalf of the president, she submitted a medal given to him by soldiers he visited in Kosovo. She said that when examined by another president a century from now she hoped it would stand as "a symbol of our never-ending resolve to fight for peace and freedom."
The White House Millennium Council challenged distinguished Americans and selected school children to imagine what a time capsule from the 20th century should contain.
The adults came from the ranks of winners of the nation's top presidential and congressional honors. The children were chosen by educators chosen as "state teachers of the year." More than 1,300 people offered ideas.
The objects and artifacts are as varied as those who selected them:
A public library card from the Boston Public Library, "the first library to let readers to take books home" — suggested by historian David McCullough.
The alphabet of the Cherokee language — suggested by former Cherokee chief Wilma Mankiller who voiced hope that her people's language will still be spoken when the capsule is opened.
The trademark sunglasses of singer and musician Ray Charles.
GI dog tags, suggested by retired Army Gen. Colin L. Powell.
On the Net: White House Millennium Council: www.whitehouse.gov/Initiatives/Millennium