McDonald's Museum
Encyclopedia
The McDonald's #1 Store Museum, also known as the McDonald's USA First Store Museum, is housed in a replica of the former McDonald's
restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois
opened by Ray Kroc
in April 1955. The company usually refers to this as The Original McDonald's, although it is not the first McDonald's restaurant, but the ninth; the first was opened by Dick and Mac McDonald
in San Bernardino, California
, in 1940, while the oldest McDonald's
still in operation is the third one built, in Downey, California
, which opened in 1953. However, the Des Plaines restaurant marked the beginning of future CEO Kroc's involvement with the firm. It opened under the aegis of his franchising company McDonald's Systems, Inc., which became McDonald's Corporation, as Kroc purchased the McDonald brothers' stake in the firm.
The actual Des Plaines restaurant was demolished in 1984, but McDonald's realized they had a history to preserve, so they built a replica, currently used as a museum. With golden arches soaring over a glass and metal, red-and-white tiled exterior, the building largely follows the McDonald brothers' original blueprints, which they had introduced when they began franchising in 1953; a Phoenix, Arizona
restaurant was the first built in this manner. Kroc's restaurant was the first McDonald's built in a colder climate, and some adaptations were made to the design, including a basement and a furnace.
The entrance sign is original, with early cartoon mascot "Speedee," representing the innovative Speedee Service System, inspired by assembly-line production, the McDonald brothers had introduced in 1948. It has, however, been moved from its original location at the south end of the property. The sign boasts "We have sold over 1 million." The replica museum offers irregular summer hours, and is often closed; tours are by appointment. The ground floor exhibits original fry vats, milkshake
Multimixers (which Kroc had sold when he first encountered the San Bernardino McDonald's restaurant), soda barrels and grills, attended to by a crew of male mannequins in 1950s uniforms. Visitors can walk in through the back, or peek through the order windows in front (there was no sit-down restaurant section in 1955). In the basement is a collection of vintage ads, photos and a video about McDonald's history.
A new, modern McDonald's was built across the street replacing a Howard Johnson's
restaurant (then Ground Round
). Over at the new McDonald's there are a half dozen glass-enclosed exhibits arrayed around the tables including red and white tiles from the original restaurant and string ties worn by employees from the 1950s to the early 1970s.
The Big Mac Museum Restaurant, another McDonald's museum, opened on August 23rd, 2007. It is located in Irwin, Pennsylvania
on Route 30 Lincoln Hwy.
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois
Des Plaines, Illinois
Des Plaines is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It has adopted the official nickname of "City of Destiny." As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 58,720. It is a suburb of Chicago, and is next to O'Hare International Airport...
opened by Ray Kroc
Ray Kroc
Raymond Albert "Ray" Kroc was an American fast food businessman who joined McDonald's in 1954 and built it into the most successful fast food operation in the world. Kroc was included in Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century, and amassed a fortune during his lifetime...
in April 1955. The company usually refers to this as The Original McDonald's, although it is not the first McDonald's restaurant, but the ninth; the first was opened by Dick and Mac McDonald
Dick and Mac McDonald
Richard James "Dick" McDonald and his brother, Maurice James "Mac" McDonald were early American fast food pioneers, who established the first McDonald's restaurant at West 14th Street and 1398 North E Street in San Bernardino, California in 1948...
in San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
, in 1940, while the oldest McDonald's
Oldest McDonald's restaurant
The oldest operating McDonald's restaurant is a drive-up hamburger stand at 10207 Lakewood Boulevard at Florence Avenue in Downey, California. It was the third McDonald's restaurant, and opened on August 18, 1953...
still in operation is the third one built, in Downey, California
Downey, California
Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is best known as the birthplace of the Apollo space program, and is the city where folk singer Karen Carpenter lived and died...
, which opened in 1953. However, the Des Plaines restaurant marked the beginning of future CEO Kroc's involvement with the firm. It opened under the aegis of his franchising company McDonald's Systems, Inc., which became McDonald's Corporation, as Kroc purchased the McDonald brothers' stake in the firm.
The actual Des Plaines restaurant was demolished in 1984, but McDonald's realized they had a history to preserve, so they built a replica, currently used as a museum. With golden arches soaring over a glass and metal, red-and-white tiled exterior, the building largely follows the McDonald brothers' original blueprints, which they had introduced when they began franchising in 1953; a Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
restaurant was the first built in this manner. Kroc's restaurant was the first McDonald's built in a colder climate, and some adaptations were made to the design, including a basement and a furnace.
The entrance sign is original, with early cartoon mascot "Speedee," representing the innovative Speedee Service System, inspired by assembly-line production, the McDonald brothers had introduced in 1948. It has, however, been moved from its original location at the south end of the property. The sign boasts "We have sold over 1 million." The replica museum offers irregular summer hours, and is often closed; tours are by appointment. The ground floor exhibits original fry vats, milkshake
Milkshake
A milkshake is a sweet, cold beverage which is made from milk, ice cream or iced milk, and flavorings or sweeteners such as fruit syrup or chocolate sauce....
Multimixers (which Kroc had sold when he first encountered the San Bernardino McDonald's restaurant), soda barrels and grills, attended to by a crew of male mannequins in 1950s uniforms. Visitors can walk in through the back, or peek through the order windows in front (there was no sit-down restaurant section in 1955). In the basement is a collection of vintage ads, photos and a video about McDonald's history.
A new, modern McDonald's was built across the street replacing a Howard Johnson's
Howard Johnson's
Howard Johnson's is a chain of hotels and restaurants, located primarily throughout the United States and Canada. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Howard Johnson's was the largest restaurant chain in the United States, with over 1,000 restaurants...
restaurant (then Ground Round
Ground Round
Ground Round Grill & Bar, an American casual dining restaurant, was founded in 1969 by Howard Johnson's. As of January 17, 2010 Ground Round is owned by Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC, a group of 30 franchisee owners. Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC is located in Freeport, Maine...
). Over at the new McDonald's there are a half dozen glass-enclosed exhibits arrayed around the tables including red and white tiles from the original restaurant and string ties worn by employees from the 1950s to the early 1970s.
The Big Mac Museum Restaurant, another McDonald's museum, opened on August 23rd, 2007. It is located in Irwin, Pennsylvania
Irwin, Pennsylvania
Irwin is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. Some of the most extensive bituminous coal deposits in the State are located here. In the past, iron foundries, flour mills, car shops, facing and planing mills, electrical goods, and mirror factories provided...
on Route 30 Lincoln Hwy.