Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes visited the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum Feb. 26 to enlist the museum’s help in the state’s activities planned to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026.

The museum is working with the Recreation Centers of Sun City to celebrate the opening next year of a time capsule in the base of the community’s Liberty Bell at Bell Recreation Center. The bell was dedicated in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration.

Once opened, items in the time capsule will be permanently displayed at the museum.

Fontes and his team met with members of the museum’s board of trustees, including President Andy Kindler, Treasurer Michael Marting and Vice President Alan Schlemmer. Museum Office Manager Linda Borton also assisted with the visit.

The Secretary of State has created a team to put together a comprehensive list of activities planned over the next few years to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday. Fontes is looking for activities created and hosted by cities, organizations and citizens groups.

Fontes’s office will provide assistance to those planning activities, especially in terms of promoting those events to the public.

The Sun City Liberty Bell was a true community-wide effort when it was initiated in 1975. Residents were encouraged to donate metal used to create the bell, and on Jan. 15, 1976, an estimated 1,500 residents gathered in the parking lot of Sun City Stadium and contributed over 7,000 pounds of scrap metal – family treasures, jewelry, bikes, appliances and more.

The metal was processed by a Philadelphia foundry and then sent to Arsten, Holland where the bell was cast in the same mold used to create Philadelphia’s original Liberty Bell.

The bell arrived in Sun City on July 5, 1976, and was initially unveiled at the Sun Bowl July 8.

It was officially dedicated and a time capsule placed in its base on Nov. 11, 1976. A letter on file with the Recreation Centers of Sun City instructs them to open the capsule in 2026.