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“America’s Time Capsule” has been officially sealed to commemorate the United States’ 250th birthday.

The 900-pound steel cylinder contains over 200 artifacts, records and objects to tell America’s story when it is opened 250 years later in 2276.

The capsule will be buried in Philadelphia on July 4 as part of the hundreds of events taking place nationwide for America’s 250th anniversary.

America250, the official nonpartisan commission designated by Congress to organize the July 4 celebrations, spearheaded the design of the capsule and the collection of relics. All 50 states, in conjunction with numerous national organizations, contributed items (ranging from a vial of sand to an Olympic gold medal) reflecting the people, places and moments that shaped their history.

Pennsylvania submitted two items: A letter from Gov. Shapiro directed at citizens 250 years from now and an archival booklet highlighting the commonwealth’s historical achievements.

You can find out more about the contents of “America’s Time Capsule” in this story.

With America’s 250th birthday just a few weeks away, we’d like to know: 

If you could take an out-of-state visitor to just one Pennsylvania landmark during America’s 250th birthday celebration, where would you go?

Here’s what you’re saying:

“Perry Monument in Presque Isle State Park. A beautiful setting commemorating Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s naval victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.”

— Steve, Erie

“I would take them to the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train in Ashland, Schuylkill County. This place has a special meaning for me because my father and grandfather helped to start it. It shows what the miners in our state had to go through to make a living.”

— Shelly, Lansdale

“I’d take them to the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia. It’s where so many people and countries were inspired to fight for freedom and equality for all people. Now more than ever our freedoms and civil rights are being challenged by the powers that be and by complacency. We need to be reminded that freedom isn’t free nor is it easy!”

— Libby G., Avondale

“I would choose Valley Forge. This was the low point in the struggle for independence and it’s a good place to emphasize the fortitude that eventually gave us the independence we enjoy today. The fact that we are now experiencing a situation where our system of government is being assaulted makes this a good time to reflect on the courage and steadfastness that preserved us when hope was in short supply.”

— John Boddie, Willow Street

Let us know what landmark you’d visit, and please let us know where you live!

Pat Monahan, left, and drummer Matt Musty of Train perform Aug. 21, 2021, at the Erie Insurance Arena. (USA Today Network via Reuters Connect)

Train frontman Pat Monahan might have left Erie for San Francisco to pursue his music career, but the band’s newest song and music video, “Pennsylvania Turnpike,” show that he has not forgotten his Erie roots.

The video highlights Monahan’s upbringing in Erie, from his childhood home, to the grade school where he got punched in the face, to the music store where he bought his first drum kit, to the site of his first kiss (Waldamer Park), and high school, to where he eventually got his start in music.

Check out this story to trace the road map presented through “Pennsylvania Turnpike” that led Monahan from Erie to his eventual success with Train.

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• The state Supreme Court ruled that skill games are unlawful under Pennsylvania’s Gaming Act and Crimes Code, striking down what the court called a pair of “deeply flawed” lower court rulings that allowed the slot-machine-like gambling devices to spread across Pennsylvania in a legal gray area beyond the reach of gaming authorities and law enforcement. Find out what the decision means going forward in this story.

• In a near-unanimous vote, the state House passed a bill Monday that would ban the sale of what’s been dubbed “gas station heroin,” or tianeptine. Get the details here.

• Manchester Township in York County is the latest municipality in the state to pass an ordinance that restricts data center development to areas zoned for industrial and heavy industrial use and imposes other regulations that make it unlikely that a data center will be built in the township. Get the story here.

John Oliver, host of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” throws out the first pitch before an Erie SeaWolves game on July 19, 2025. (USA Today Network via Reuters Connect)

John Oliver is having some more fun with WNEP in Scranton.

The host of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight” is no stranger to leaning on Pennsylvania to sprinkle some comic relief in amongst deep dive stories on election fraud, payday loan malfeasance, immigration, and more, be it renaming the Erie SeaWolves, highlighting the paintings of a York artist in the rather niche style of rat erotica, or fixating on the backyard train running behind weathercasters at WNEP in Scranton.

To close Sunday’s episode, Oliver shared a montage of updates from WNEP meteorologist Joe Snedeker about the status of a broken urinal at the station.

Good news, it appears the urinal has been repaired.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from The Associated Press, USA Today via Reuters Connect, and Peter Hall and Ian Karbal of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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