Jun 25, 2026 - News

What Florida should've put in America's time capsule, according to readers

The America250 time capsule, left, and the bell jar that will fit on top of it, shown here in the machine shop where they were created at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. (Photo credit: Rich Press/NIST)

We asked you what Florida should have buried in America's Time Capsule.

Y'all made one thing clear: "Not challenge coins, pins, and booklets representing our governor, legislators and other leaders," Cindy L. wrote.

"It is not their memory that we should be memorializing."

Among the suggestions:

Representation from "the REAL Florida," like a slice of key lime pie, a Jimmy Buffet record, or a stuffed manatee or alligator, said reader Sharon T.

"Because the way things are going, none of this is gonna be around in 50 years."

Some more sobering realities, from Terry B.: "Water from one of our few remaining springs. A picture of manatees in one of those springs. A picture of Miami Beach before it is under water..."

And some even more sobering ideas, from Rebecca T.: "A high school student ID with instructions for what to do in the case of a mass shooting printed on the back.," and Ray M:

"A list of the names of the more than 200 people on Death Row in Florida to make it clear to people in the future as to what a barbaric society Florida was in 2026."

Finally, a small comfort, suggested by Sharon T. and Donna P.: A mug or decal invoking local meteorologist/celeb Denis Phillips' Rule #7 on his list of hurricane rules.

For the uninitiated: "Stop freaking out... until I tell you to. We're fine."

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What Florida should've put in America's time capsule, according to readers

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