Minnesota Stuffed Drama Into America’s 250 Time Capsule

A massive, 900-pound time capsule celebrating America’s 250th anniversary is being transported to Philadelphia for a July 4th burial and won't be opened from another 250 years.

When future generations crack it open in 2276, they are going to find some incredible pieces of history. Iowa tucked in a space station medallion provided by Iowa native and astronaut Peggy Whitson, North Dakota sent a coin from the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, and Minnesota? Well, we contributed an item that has been driving a massive wedge between neighbors for a couple of years now.

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Minnesota sent our brand-new "North Star" state flag to be sealed inside the capsule. The design became official back in 2024, but it remains a major cultural lightning rod. A KARE 11 poll revealed that roughly half of the state still dislikes it.

Why Was the Minnesota Flag Changed in 2024?

The decision to update the state's banner was driven by concerns over the imagery on the 1983 seal. The former flag depicted a Native American riding away while a white settler plowed a field with a rifle nearby. This scene was deemed offensive by many who felt it celebrated the displacement of Indigenous people.

Critics argue the redesign process felt political and erased state history. Several communities across the state have rejected the new flag.

Minnesota's new flag is locked away in America’s 250th time capsule, but these local communities are still actively refusing to fly it:

The Minnesota Communities Defying the State Flag Redesign

When Minnesota officially retired its 1983 blue-and-gold flag in 2024, state leaders hoped the new "North Star" design would become a unifying symbol. Instead, a wave of local resistance has swept across the state. Here is the current list of Minnesota cities and counties that have formally opted to stick with old design.

Gallery Credit: Troy Dunken

Filed Under: Minnesota