BYU Packs Time Capsule for 50-Year Time Vault

University leaders fill box with items representing 150 years of history, to be opened in 2075.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:39pm

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Brigham Young University has packed a time capsule that will remain sealed for the next 50 years, until the university's bicentennial in 2075. BYU President Shane Reese and Vice President Keith Vorkink placed various items inside the capsule, including historical measuring tools, a roll of pennies, samples of cursive handwriting, an old diploma, and commemorative clothing and athletic jerseys.

Why it matters

The time capsule project is part of BYU's sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) celebrations, providing a unique time capsule that will give future generations a glimpse into the university's history and culture at the mid-point of the 21st century.

The details

The time capsule contains a mix of historical items from BYU's past, as well as modern representations of campus life. Reese and Vorkink included measuring tools originally placed in a 1976 time capsule, a roll of pennies since the U.S. has discontinued the one-cent piece, samples of cursive handwriting, an old diploma signed by founding figure Karl G. Maeser, new graduation diplomas, textbooks from a new required course on BYU history, and commemorative clothing and athletic jerseys. They also added an iPhone to represent current technology, joking that the contents would be disinfected before being sealed away for 50 years.

  • The time capsule was packed on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • The capsule will remain sealed until BYU's bicentennial year in 2075.

The players

Shane Reese

The president of Brigham Young University.

Keith Vorkink

The vice president of advancement at Brigham Young University.

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What they’re saying

“Seeing what phones look like today compared to 1975, and wondering what phones will be like 50 years from now, Reese added an iPhone.”

— Shane Reese, BYU President

“Vorkink joked that the box would not be complete without them, while ensuring everyone they would be disinfected before sitting secluded from the world for 50 years.”

— Keith Vorkink, BYU Advancement Vice President

What’s next

The time capsule will remain sealed until BYU's bicentennial year in 2075, when it will be opened and the contents revealed to the university community.

The takeaway

BYU's time capsule project provides a unique time capsule that will give future generations a glimpse into the university's history and culture at the mid-point of the 21st century, capturing both historical and modern representations of campus life.