Maryland Delegation Submits Items for Congressional Time Capsule in Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary

In honor of America’s 250 th anniversary, this summer, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation – U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) – submitted a Fort McHenry Flag and a Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. Sealed and buried by the Architect of the Capitol, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule contains a joint letter and items of significance from every state and territory reflecting the history and culture of our country. It will be opened by the 224 th Congress in celebration of our nation's 500th anniversary on July 4, 2276. The items selected by the Maryland delegation represent Maryland’s critical role in the history of America: Fort McHenry Flag: This 15-Star Flag, also known as a Fort McHenry Flag, is a replica of the one that flew above Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the United States national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner , in 1814. The flag that was flying at Fort McHenry that day was sewn at 844 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, members of her family, and indentured and enslaved African-American women – it is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The Fort McHenry Flag has 15 stars and 15 stripes to account for Vermont and Kentucky becoming the 14 th and 15 th states, and was the official flag of the United States from 1795-1818. The Fort McHenry Flag included in the Congressional Time Capsule was flown over 844 E. Pratt Street, now known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, on July 4, 2026, on the occasion of America’s 250 th anniversary. B&O Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal: This commemorative coin was crafted in honor of the B&O Railroad’s 100 th anniversary in 1927. The B&O Souvenir Medal was selected for the Congressional Time Capsule because of the B&O Railroad’s significant impact on both the state of Maryland and the country – chartered on February 28, 1827, it was the first-ever railroad to carry both passengers and freight for a toll. It pioneered railway engineering and spurred industrial opportunity for the United States. Notably, construction of the B&O Railroad began on July 4, 1828, with a groundbreaking event in Baltimore that featured Marylander Charles Carroll, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Souvenir Medal was donated to this time capsule by the National Museum of Railroad History and Innovation located in Baltimore. “Marylanders have always played a central role in American history – from the Maryland 400 holding strong against the British Army in 1776, to Baltimore’s own Thurgood Marshall expanding justice under the law, to the countless scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs pushing our nation forward every day. Inspired by the legacy of these great Marylanders and those still to come, we will continue working to build a nation that lives up to the American promise of equal justice, equal rights, and equal opportunity for all. As we celebrate America’s 250 th anniversary, the items Team Maryland chose for this Congressional Time Capsule showcase the resilience and innovation woven into the histories of both our great state and nation. This time capsule is a reflection on the work our nation has done over the past 250 years to live up to our founding ideals, and a statement of belief that 250 years from now our democracy will be even stronger,” said Senator Van Hollen. “It was an honor to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary by looking back at Maryland’s contributions to technology, science, and culture that have transformed our nation forever. And when this time capsule is opened on July 4, 2276, I hope Marylanders will look back at the mark we are leaving now – how we stood for justice, worked hard to advance society, cured diseases, found solutions to complex problems, and did it all with joy and love for each other,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “It can be difficult to imagine America at 500. What technologies will define the way we live and work? What will our nation celebrate and mourn from its history? How will our people build community and understand the bonds that keep us together? The America 250 Congressional Time Capsule will offer them a window into our nation and our moment in history. I’m proud to join Team Maryland in offering future Marylanders a reminder of what we cherish and how we celebrate our state’s place in American history,” said Congressman Hoyer. "The United States of America's 250th Birthday is a momentous occasion, and with the selection of these items for the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule, we ensure that Maryland's contributions to American history will be preserved for our nation's Quincentennial," said Congressman Mfume. "The resilience and fortitude represented by this 15-star flag – the same design as flew over Fort McHenry while Francis Scott Key penned our National Anthem – as well as the pioneering spirit and ingenuity embodied by the commemorative B&O Railroad coin, are traits that have characterized Marylanders for generations. Let this capsule carry them forward to those Americans who open it next." “Maryland’s contributions to our country stretch back to the earliest days of our nation. More than two centuries later, that legacy continues across the Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay, where farmers and watermen remain an important part of American agriculture and seafood production, and through the Port of Baltimore, which connects our state to commerce around the world. The items selected by the Maryland delegation capture two defining moments in that history and will carry a piece of Maryland’s past forward as America celebrates its 250th anniversary,” said Congressman Harris. “From Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman to Rachel Carson to Thurgood Marshall, Marylanders have been devoted patriots and fighters for our land, our democracy and our freedom,” said Congressman Raskin. “When this time capsule is opened, future Americans will be reminded of the Free State’s many enduring cultural, scientific and political contributions to our nation’s history and our shared work to build a more perfect union.” “Maryland has always been at the heart of America’s story, and our contributions to this country extend far beyond the moments we typically see in the history books. The flag that inspired our national anthem was sewn in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, her family, and Black women whose contributions were essential to our nation’s history. The B&O Railroad helped launch America’s industrial future from right here in Maryland. As we celebrate 250 years of our nation, these artifacts remind us that America’s story has always been shaped by the people, ingenuity, and perseverance of Marylanders. I’m proud to help preserve that story for Americans 250 years from now,” said Congressman Ivey. “Home to the oldest State Capitol to remain in use and the only State House to have served as the nation’s Capitol; the place where our Founders met in 1786 and decided we needed a new system of government that led to the Constitution we have today; and the state where our flag flew high after the Battle of Fort McHenry, inspiring our national anthem — Maryland’s role in our nation’s history is undeniable,” said Congresswoman Elfreth. “The artifacts we preserved today tell crucial pieces of Maryland’s story in the last 250 years of our nation’s history, and Team Maryland is committed to preserving this legacy for generations to come.” “People call Maryland America in miniature. That started as a line about our climate and geography, but I think it says something truer about us: for more than 250 years, Maryland has helped build this country. What our delegation put in this time capsule shows exactly that,” said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. “Maryland has always punched above its weight in shaping the story of America. From the flag that inspired our national anthem to the railroad that helped connect a growing nation, these artifacts help tell the story of Maryland’s role in defending our freedom and creating opportunity,” said Congressman Olszewski. “Now, 250 years later, the fight for these ideals continues in different ways. It is with a spirit of hope that we look to the future -- that generations of Americans will continue our march toward a more perfect union." An electronic version of Maryland’s submission to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule is available here .