June 15, 2026 - SACRAMENTO – In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announced California’s seven contributions to the America250 time capsule being buried outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4th, 2026. These items represent the innovative technology California leads the nation and globe in, capturing the remarkable spirit and communities that make the Golden State one-of-a-kind.

California’s time capsule items: 

1. A letter to the future from the Governor and First Partner 

Reflecting on this moment, the Governor and First Partner wrote a letter to the future. Printed on archival paper, the letter captures a snapshot of present-day California and the United States, how far California has come in 175 years of its statehood, and the hope that the values of today will endure for centuries to come.

2. Claude’s prediction of California’s future 250 years from now 

Claude Artificial Intelligence (AI) Large Language Model’s (LLM) was given the prompt: “Write me a prediction of what California will be like 250 years from July 4, 2026.” Claude’s musings are printed on archival paper, serving as a tangible representation of AI in 2026. Only time will tell if the predictions laid out will be realized. Claude, currently the most sophisticated LLM — built by Anthropic and headquartered in San Francisco, California — represents the forefront of the current technological revolution. 

3. Qubit chip from University of California, Berkeley 

The qubit chip from the University of California, Berkeley reflects some of today’s most innovative technological research and highlights California’s leading public university system — a key driver of the state’s booming innovation economy. Quantum computers use qubits to solve problems that are computationally challenging or impossible for classical computers. Like California, this qubit chip is at the cutting edge of technological innovation. 

4. Fusion conductor segment

Built in San Diego, California, by General Atomics, this fusion conductor segment reflects some of the most innovative research in clean energy across the globe. The conductor is part of the International Thermonuclear Experimental React (ITER) Central Solenoid, the “heart” of the world’s largest fusion experiment. This segment represents California’s leadership in both clean energy and technological innovation. 

5. California’s American Innovation Coin featuring Steve Jobs 

California’s American Innovation Coin features Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and Pixar Animation Studios. Governor Newsom selected Jobs to represent California in recognition of his extraordinary impact on technology, storytelling, communication, and modern life. Jobs’ innovative and entrepreneurial spirit embodies the best of California, creating the future we all know today.

6. My California by California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick 

My California, written by California’s current Poet Laureate, Lee Herrick, uniquely captures the diversity and vitality of the California experience. Herrick, appointed by Governor Newsom, celebrates the spirit of the Golden State and the Central Valley of California — the agricultural capital of the United States. 

7. NASA photo of California from space 

This photo of California from space was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Aqua satellite on January 23, 2022. The image captures the current topography of the state during a typical winter season in the first few decades of the twenty-first century.