- Utah is sending items to be part of the America250 time capsule that will be buried on July 4.
- Utah's time capsule items, presented Wednesday at the Capitol, represent important events and individuals in the state's history.
- The time capsule aims to honor America's past and inspire future generations after 250 years.
On America’s 250th birthday this summer, “America’s time capsule” will be buried in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, filled with contributions from all 50 states inside — including items from Utah.
On Wednesday, Utah government leaders and members of the America250 Utah Commission gathered to present the items that the state will be sending back east D.C., to be part of the time capsule.
Each state received a small box to put their items in, and Utah is filling its box with Olympic pins, unique coins, cornerstones of major buildings and even trading cards representing some of the state’s most notable people.
“We wanted to recognize individuals, ethnic groups, the American Indian tribes,” said Ron Fox, co-chair of the America250 Utah commission. “We’re really looking at people and events, whether it’s the Transcontinental Railroad or the mining that took place in Park City that created our silver, that made our silver dollars and our silver coins.”
Fox continued, explaining how items were chosen for the time capsule: “We look at technology. We recognize the Olympics, both in 2002 and 2034. We’re looking at things that made Utah happen.”
There are also papers filled with signatures from Utah’s statewide officeholders, members of the state Legislature, the state’s Supreme Court justices and Utah’s federal elected officials. Those sheets will be placed in the larger federal portion of the time capsule.
The official America250 time capsule was mandated by Congress in 2016 when they created the nonpartisan commission to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial. It will be buried on July 4 and the plan is for it to be sealed for another 250 years until 2276.
Fox said the time capsule is meant to “honor America at this point and basically to look back 250 years and look forward 250 years, but to give a slice of life for our time now.”
State Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, and Speaker of the House Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, both spoke at the presentation of the time capsule items.
“I am excited to be here because America is the best nation in the world, bar none,” Schultz said. “I truly am a firm believer that Utah is the best state in the nation. And this time capsule is an opportunity for us to show Americans 250 years from now why Utah led the nation on so many fronts.”
Celebrating America250 in Utah
Throughout this year there are a variety of events and programs taking place across 150 of Utah’s communities to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial.
“Counties, cities, towns are all planning events such as parades, quilt shows, lectures, community reenactments that all highlight how Utahns contributed to the American story,” said Nicole Handy, executive director of America250 Utah Commission.
The commission has also put together six programs meant to educate, engage and unite Utahns “as we reflect on our nation’s history, as we honor the evolution of our country, and we look towards the future.”
In September, Utah will also celebrate the 250th anniversary of Father Escalante coming into the state.
“There’s a lot of things to celebrate that deal with American history and our state’s history,” Fox said.
Fox shared that so many Utahns are related to “some of the founders and the patriots that have come before us that made this nation and the people who sacrificed for our country.”
He said it is important to honor these people as the country moves forward.