GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON, VA — In celebration of the 250th Anniversary of American Independence and enduring friendship and shared ideals, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United Kingdom are coming together to present a ‘twin’, titanium Time Capsule as well as a Capstone that was part of the historic, George Washington Statue in London’s Trafalgar Square to the U.S. Department of Interior. Both items — created as part of the Friends of the Washington Statue (a preservation not-for-profit) initiative — will be installed by the Trump Administration later this spring under the plaza at the Washington Monument as part of the 250th celebrations.
“As the birthplace of American independence and the home of George Washington, Virginia is honored to help lead this meaningful commemoration of our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “The presentation of this Time Capsule and Capstone to Secretary Burgum and the Trump Administration reflects the enduring bond between the United States and the United Kingdom, a special relationship forged through history, strengthened by shared sacrifice, and sustained by our common commitment to liberty and self-government. This tribute connects our past to our future and reaffirms that the ideals that began in Virginia continue to unite free peoples on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The Time Capsule is a “twin” of the one placed under the fully restored George Washington Statue in London’s Trafalgar Square as part of FWS’s rededication on June 18, 2025, leading up to the 250th. The Capstone is carved out of one of the original Portland limestone steps which were replaced as part of the restoration of the George Washington Statue. These artifacts will mirror key features of the George Washington Statue restoration in London.
“As we reflect on shared values and intertwined histories, we felt it appropriate to mark the uniqueness of the VA-UK relationship as part of Virginia’s celebrations around the 250th,” said the First Lady of Virginia, Suzanne S. Youngkin, Honorary Chair of Friends of the Washington Statue. “This Time Capsule and Capstone, which will be installed this spring at the epicenter of our nation’s iconic National Mall, serve as a unique and timeless reminder of our two Nations’ enduring commitment to freedom and friendship.”
“The 250th anniversary of American independence is an opportunity to reflect on where we began and the values that continue to guide us,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “The Department is proud to accept this time capsule, presented through the partnership of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United Kingdom, to connect America’s past, present, and future, while recognizing an enduring alliance with long-time partners around the world. This administration, under President Donald J. Trump, will continue to preserve the American story, ensuring that the principles, sacrifices, and shared history that shaped our nation remain alive and accessible for generations to come.”
“Time capsules are about speaking to the future. I am confident that when this treasure is opened up by our descendants, they will find Britain and America still the closest of friends and the surest of allies,” said Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Lammy. “Two free, multi-racial, English-speaking peoples anchoring our great Western family. This is who we are: a family based on freedom, a family that never tires in its pursuit of greatness and new horizons.”
Led by the Friends of the Washington Statue, with the support of the Governor and First Lady of Virginia, the presentation marks more than two centuries of partnership, common sacrifice, and mutual respect between the U.S. and the U.K.
Originally gifted by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1914 to commemorate the Centennial of the Treaty of Ghent (that ended hostilities between the United States and Great Britain), the George Washington Statue in London was finally unveiled in 1921 after World War I, symbolizing a friendship strengthened through shared history and shared sacrifice. The Presentation Ceremony on January 7, 2026, at Mount Vernon, Washington’s ancestral home, is timed to coincide as closely as possible to the Anniversary of the Treaty of Ghent – Christmas Eve, December 24th, 1814.
Today, this renewed tribute reaffirms the lasting significance of the “Special Relationship” – a bond rooted in the ideals of liberty, self-government, and the rule of law. As George Washington wrote, “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth,” a sentiment that continues to inspire both nations.
Senior dignitaries including Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin, U.S. Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum, and U.K. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy participated in the January 7th Presentation Ceremony. They were accompanied by students who had winning entries in Virginia’s statewide Expressions of Freedom student competition included in the contents of the Time Capsule.
The Time Capsule – designed by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster, with instructions to be reopened on July 4, 2276 – will contain among other items the winning student competition entries, proclamations/letters from senior U.S. and U.K. public officials, a list of stakeholders and donors, and a supply of soil from Sulgrave Manor (the Washington ancestral home in England) mirroring soil donated by Mount Vernon for the Time Capsule in London’s Trafalgar Square. Additional contents, such as proclamations/letters from President Donald Trump and King Charles III, will be included in the Time Capsule before its installation at the Washington Monument this spring.
The Portland limestone Capstone – made from one of the original steps of the George Washington Statue plinth in London – is inscribed with thirteen six-pointed stars replicating the design of George Washington’s famous Headquarters Flag.
As part of the 250th Anniversary in the spring of 2026, the Time Capsule and Capstone (funded with private donations through Friends of the Washington Statue) will be installed by the Trump Administration at the center of the Mall under the Washington Monument Plaza to mirror their London counterparts. They will be placed beneath one of the plaza’s Cambria black granite flagstones (sourced from Canada, a U.K. commonwealth country) located on a direct line between the center of the Washington Monument and Trafalgar Square – a heading of forty-nine and a half degrees (49.5o).
For further information, please visit: www.washingtonstatue.org.
