Two southeast Idaho communities are giving residents the chance to leave their mark on history — not for this generation, but for the one that will come of age in 2076. Both Pocatello and St. Anthony are accepting items for community time capsules that will remain sealed for 50 years as part of the nationwide celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Pocatello Capsule to Live at Marshall Public Library
The Pocatello project is being organized through the city’s America250 Ad Hoc Advisory Committee. Rick Cheatum, who chairs the committee, said the idea took hold after he learned about what kinds of items had been placed in similar capsules in the past. “The contents kind of captivated me and made me think maybe something like that would be appropriate,” he said.
The Pocatello capsule is made of aluminum and was donated by Partner Steel. Once sealed, it will be permanently displayed on the second floor of Marshall Public Library at 113 South Garfield Avenue — giving future generations a visible reminder that the capsule exists long before anyone is authorized to open it.
Residents who want to contribute can drop off items at Pocatello City Hall, located at 911 N. Seventh Avenue, through 5 p.m. on Monday, June 22. The city will hold a public sealing celebration at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 3, on the east side of Marshall Public Library. Mayor Mark Dahlquist is scheduled to deliver remarks at 5:30 p.m. The July 3 date ties the event to Independence Day weekend, connecting the capsule’s purpose — documenting American community life — to the broader patriotic spirit of the holiday.
Anyone interested in attending or submitting items should plan accordingly, as the June 22 deadline leaves only days for Bannock County residents to participate. The celebration the following week will be open to the public.
St. Anthony Ceremony Set for July 24 at Keefer Memorial Park
To the north, the city of St. Anthony is pursuing a parallel effort. Mayor Donald Powell said the project resonated with him both as a way to honor America’s anniversary and to preserve the community’s pioneer heritage. “I loved the idea and decided we should do one here in celebration of America250 and also to honor our pioneer heritage,” Powell said.
The St. Anthony capsule is a substantial vessel — 34 inches long, 24 inches wide, and 12 inches tall — built to hold a meaningful cross-section of life in 2026. Residents can bring items to St. Anthony City Hall at 420 North Bridge Street through July 20. The formal sealing ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. on July 24 at Clyde Keefer Memorial Park.
Like Pocatello’s capsule, the St. Anthony container will remain sealed until 2076, when it will be opened as part of what organizers hope will be another milestone anniversary observance — this time marking America’s 300th year.
A Snapshot of Southeast Idaho in 2026
Time capsule projects like these serve a function that no digital archive can quite replicate: a physical, tangible record chosen by ordinary people living through an ordinary year. Future residents opening these capsules in five decades will encounter what Pocatello and St. Anthony residents decided was worth preserving — photographs, mementos, written letters, news clippings, or whatever contributors feel captures life in 2026.
The effort is part of a broader wave of America250 commemorations happening across the country and throughout Idaho as communities large and small mark the nation’s semiquincentennial. For Pocatello and St. Anthony, the capsule projects offer a local, lasting way to participate in that national moment while also telling their own community stories.
Those looking for other ways to celebrate community milestones in southeast Idaho this summer can also check out upcoming local events, including the Gate City Pride 2026 celebration moving to Centennial Park in Pocatello, which has expanded hours for this year’s event.
What Comes Next
Pocatello residents have until 5 p.m. on June 22 to drop off items at City Hall, 911 N. Seventh Avenue. The public sealing celebration follows on July 3 at 5 p.m. at Marshall Public Library, with Mayor Dahlquist speaking at 5:30 p.m. In St. Anthony, the submission deadline is July 20, with the sealing ceremony set for July 24 at 3 p.m. at Clyde Keefer Memorial Park. Both capsules will be opened in 2076.