Readers reveal what belongs in Illinois' time capsule
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How would Malort taste in 250 years? The same? Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
When U.S. officials crack open "America's Time Capsule" in 2276, Illinois' section will include a letter from Gov. JB Pritzker and the poem "Dear New Blood" by Mark Turcotte, from the state's Poet Laureate.
The big picture: While those are lovely choices, we asked Axios Chicago readers what they'd submit to the time capsule.
State of play: Here are some of the responses:
🍗 "A bottle of Coleman's Mild Sauce from the West Side." — Victoria W.
🧣"A winter coat, gloves, scarf, and hat that most likely won't be needed at all in 2276." — Arnie S.
🍕 "The Chicago flag and a Lou Malnati's deep dish pizza. If Justin's beef will hold, so will this!" — Jack W.
🛞 "Bottle of Malort ... maybe by then, it won't taste like burnt tires lol." — Pete K.
🏅 "A replica of Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize." — Mike E.
👨 "I would throw Michael Madigan in there as a case study and reminder of how corruption and power are intertwined." — Matthew F.
⚾️ "A Cubs PCA Jersey." — Ron K.
📃 "City of Evanston application for reparations and copy of DOJ legal documents against it." — Kathy R.
🧁 "Twinkies. They would still be edible and soft in 2276." — John G.
🌊 "Lake Michigan water, a brick from the Tribune tower, a picture of the Pope in his White Sox gear, Cubs, Blackhawks, Bull, & Sky hats, Michael Jordan's jersey, (nothing from the Bears, still salty), empty pizza boxes from famous pizzerias, wine from Shawnee wine trail, corn, soybeans, picture of the EL, the skyline and Obama." — Enakshi S.
🏟️ "Grass from Soldier Field and a bottle of Malort." — Mike G.
🗺️ "A map of Illinois with AI data centers as of 2026. Included on that map: conservation land in IL." — Lori N.
🪨 "I would send a piece of Starved Rock, possibly a tiny metallic bust of John Baptiste Point du Sable as the founder of Chicago, a copy of the Illinois state flag, a plastic replica of a Chicago hot dog and any plastic replica of one of Illinois' premium beers, such as Old Style or Pabst Blue Ribbon." — Vladimire H.