As the City of Long Beach marked 908 Day on Sept. 8, they announced the creation of a new time capsule in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Two months after opening the City’s time capsule from America’s Bicentennial, which showcased the spirit of Long Beach in 1976, residents will have the chance to both look ahead and preserve the present for the next half century.
“As we celebrate the founding of our nation, Long Beach has an opportunity to show the world what makes this city special and creating this time capsule on 908 Day could not be more fitting,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a public statement. “I encourage every resident to take part and share the piece of Long Beach they want future generations to know.”
Items may be submitted now through Dec. 1 to be considered for inclusion in the new time capsule. Through an online form, community members can contribute artifacts across four categories: historical, cultural, personal and “other.”
The 1976 time capsule featured mementos like flags, local newspapers and publications, handwritten letters from elementary school students and even a vial of oil.
At the start of 2027, the City will add the complete submission list, with resident names and ideas, to the capsule to document what Long Beach residents valued in 2026. The collection of tangible items will run through Dec. 31.
The capsule will then be presented during the Mayor’s State of the City address in early 2027 and subsequently sealed for the next 50 years inside a plinth on permanent display in the lobby of the Long Beach Civic Center.
“This time capsule gives every resident a chance to help tell that story, our story, and it will stand in a place where our community can see it for generations to come,” City Manager Tom Modica said in a public statement.
Funding for the time capsule and memorial plinth comes from Long Beach’s Special Events and Promotion budget, which comes from transient occupancy tax revenue and may only be used in promotion of the City.
Since being established in September 2024 by the Long Beach City Council, 908 Day has served as an annual celebration of all things Long Beach. The celebration was created in partnership with 908 Magazine, which bears the first three digits of the Long Beach ZIP code.
