An iPhone has just become a message to people who have not even been born yet.

 

On July 4, 2026, an official national time capsule was buried in Philadelphia to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.

It is not meant to be opened until July 4, 2276.

Inside are an iPhone 17 Pro Max, a natural diamond from Arkansas, a whale bone from Maine, letters, artwork, official documents, and contributions from across the United States.

The capsule was designed to protect its contents from water, moisture, and temperature changes for two and a half centuries.

To us, the phone is an ordinary object from everyday life.

To people living in 2276, it may look as ancient as technology from several centuries ago looks to us today.

The image is illustrative and does not show the actual appearance of the official time capsule.

Sources: America250, National Park Service, Associated Press.

What object from today would you leave behind for people living in 2276