Colorado’s next chapter is being written now, and this is a chance to help future generations understand what this moment felt like. The Great Colorado Time Capsule is a statewide community project inviting Coloradans to submit meaningful items that capture life in the state today.
Expected to be Colorado’s largest community time capsule, the project will be hosted at the Larimer County Fair and is open to contributions from individuals, families and organizations across the state. Participants are invited to submit items ranging from small personal mementos and family messages to photographs, artwork, creative writing and reflections.
As Colorado prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary alongside the nation’s 250th, communities across the state are finding ways to honor history, celebrate the present and preserve stories for the future. In Loveland, this celebration is built around a simple but powerful question: What would you want someone in the future to know about life in Colorado today?
This is not your typical time capsule
Time capsules have long helped communities capture a moment in time. A school might bury letters from students. A town might preserve newspapers, photos or memorabilia from a major anniversary. These projects matter because they preserve details that can feel ordinary today but become meaningful over time.
The Great Colorado Time Capsule takes that tradition to a statewide scale. The capsule itself will be made from a large industrial pipe, repurposed and sealed for long-term preservation. A committee will carefully review items selected for inclusion. Everything in the capsule will be vacuum-sealed to help prevent deterioration.
Once complete, the capsule will be permanently placed on-site as part of The Ranch Events Complex’s ongoing master plan, near the event lawn. That means the stories, objects and reflections preserved inside will become part of a lasting landmark at one of northern Colorado’s most active gathering places. And, the time capsule will be opened in celebration of the America 300 and Colorado 200 anniversaries in 2076.
What to submit
The best submissions will help future generations understand what life in Colorado looked, felt and sounded like in this moment. Think personal, specific and meaningful. A handwritten note from a student. A family photo from a favorite annual tradition. A printed menu from a local restaurant. A small keepsake from a Colorado business or nonprofit. These are the kinds of everyday pieces that can help tell a bigger story.
Suggested items include personal letters, notes to the future and family messages. Acid-free paper is recommended for written materials. Photographs of daily life, community events and Colorado’s great outdoors are also encouraged, along with artwork, poetry, creative writing, printed cultural snapshots and small keepsakes that represent Colorado life.
Participants may also submit “day in the life” descriptions or reflections. These can be especially meaningful because they capture the texture of day-to-day life, from how people work and gather to what they value, celebrate and hope for. The goal is not to submit something expensive or elaborate. The goal is to submit something that tells a story. Digital submissions will also be accepted through an online “Letters to the Future” form.
Size and submission guidelines
Smaller items are strongly encouraged so that as many Coloradans as possible can participate. The maximum item size is 12” by 12” by 12”, which is about the size of a USPS large flat-rate box. The maximum weight is 5 pounds. Items that fit within a 6” by 6” by 6” space are recommended.
All submissions should be clearly labeled and securely packaged with a return address. Because a selection committee will review items, submission does not guarantee inclusion. Unused submissions will be returned when possible.
What not to submit
To protect the capsule and its contents, certain materials cannot be accepted.
Please do not submit food, organic materials or anything perishable. Liquids, gels, items that may leak, batteries, fluid-state electronics, flammable materials, hazardous materials, pressurized items, oversized items, heavy items, illegal materials and prohibited materials are also restricted.
When in doubt, choose something small, dry, stable and easy to preserve.
Why it matters
The Great Colorado Time Capsule is about more than saving objects. It’s about saving perspective.
In 2026, Colorado will mark 150 years of statehood, while the United States will mark 250 years of independence. Across the state, communities will celebrate with festivals, events, programs and local traditions that honor the people and places that make Colorado memorable.
The time capsule gives residents a way to participate in that milestone year in a personal and lasting way. It invites Coloradans to pause, look around and consider what defines this moment in our shared history. This is not just something to see. It is something to be part of. Years from now, the items inside the Great Colorado Time Capsule may help future generations understand Colorado’s landscapes, creativity, local businesses, families, celebrations and everyday experiences. That story will be stronger if more people are part of it.
How to participate
Coloradans will be able to contribute items in person at the Larimer County Fair or by mail, making the project open to participants statewide.
Mail submissions to:
Great Colorado Time Capsule
c/o Visit Loveland
5400 Stone Creek Circle
Loveland, CO 80538
Questions about what to submit can be directed to Charles Lammers at [email protected].
Whether you contribute a letter, photo, piece of artwork or small keepsake, your submission can help capture Colorado as it is today for the people who will discover it tomorrow. If you’re making the trip to see the time capsule for yourself, make a whole getaway of it by checking out our helpful itineraries for outdoor lovers, families, art lovers, couples and self-care.