How will Miami be remembered in 50 years? Peek into a new time capsule
Fifty years from now, how will Miami be remembered?
On Monday, Miami-Dade County answered that question with a FIFA 2026 vest, a toy FIU Panthers mascot, a traditional Miccosukee palmetto fiber doll and a poster of the year’s skyline.
Those were among 100 items in the county’s 2026 time capsule, a collection of Miami memories put together for the nation’s 250th birthday.
People from more than 80 groups — including Miami-Dade County, Congress, and local universities and foundations — contributed to the time capsule now buried by a lake in Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40th St.
“The time capsule that we are dedicating today is far more than a collection of objects — it is a message across generations,” said County Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis.
The Miami-Dade 250 Time Capsule will be opened on the 300th anniversary of the United States in 2076.
The capsule installation was part of a joint ceremony with the unveiling of a park marker honoring patriots. The marker commemorates those who fought for independence in the Revolutionary War.
“It’s a reminder that our independence was not achieved by a single group, but instead by countless men and women who served in any way,” Dana Pezoldt of the Daughters of the American Revolution said of the marker. “It reminds us that history lives where we live, and connects our Miami-Dade story to the larger American story.”
The dedicated marker and buried time capsule are only feet apart. While the metallic and bolted-shut capsule won’t be visible, a sign attached to a large rock marks the location.
Other contents in the time capsule include newspapers, letters to the future, a palm tree statue, books, pins, and photos of local officials.
“When the people of 2076 come and open up this capsule, and they get back our time, hopefully they will remember some of the greatness, as well as some of the struggles,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We have withstood many challenges, and we have not just survived, but we’ve thrived. I hope that’s what will be remembered.”
