We revere sacred spots. On the American highway, these places aren't where saints were martyred or battles waged, but where our great fast food chains began -- those crowning symbols of entrepreneurship and brand consistency.
Unfortunately, the worship began only in the last few decades -- our cultural consciousness didn't elevate soon enough to stop demolition of most original burger huts and milkshake palaces. And as elevated sugar and fat intake has fueled our engines of diabetic obesity, the Fast Food industry is under assault. Salads and low-fat drinks may transform the chains, but that's no reason to forget their origins...
For many -- world's first Hardee's, birthplace of Burger King, Carl's Jr, White Castle -- all that's left are old photos. But the first Wendy's, heavily renovated through the years, stands in downtown Columbus, Ohio; the Col. Sanders Cafe was restored to its 1940s KFC-birthplace splendorin Corbin, Kentucky; and the first Pizza Hut was moved and preserved for study at Wichita State University, Kansas.
So what about the Queen Mother of Value Meals?
McDonald's Corporation held onto the patch of property west of Chicago where franchise Store #1 stood; Ray Kroc first opened for business there on April 15, 1955. The structure was eventually restored as an accurate replica of Store #1 (not serving food). A modern McDonald's opened for business right across the street.
With golden arches soaring over a glass/metal/red-and-white tiled exterior, the building follows the original blueprints, with some modifications as a museum. The entrance sign is an original, with early cartoon mascot "Speedee" and the first boast -- "We have sold over 1 million."
The replica restaurant/museum offers irregular summer hours, and is often closed (you can arrange for a tour by appointment). The ground floor exhibits original fry vats, milkshake "Multi-mixers," soda barrels and grills, attended to by a crew of male mannequins in 1950s uniforms. You can walk in through the back, or peek through the order windows in front (there was no sit-down restaurant section in that era). Nothing is operating or moving, so the effect is eerie, like a cheap sci-fi show where time has frozen.
Down in the basement, a low-ceilinged space with back-lit glass brick walls, you'll find a collection of vintage ads, photos, and a video about McDonald's history. There's not room for much else. End of tour.
Over at the modern McD's, you can view a half dozen glass-enclosed exhibits arrayed around the tables, but patrons shoot dirty glances when you lean over them to examine the artifacts. There are red and white tiles from the original restaurant, and string ties worn by employees from the '50s to the early '70s.
In comparison with other consumer product histories writ ludicrously large, such as Coca Cola®, or even Zippo Lighter, McD's salute to self-importance is way too laid back. As a global icon, McDonald's owes it to civilization to build a magnificent Golden Arches City or Speedee's World of Food History -- and do it now, while portions and customers are still super-sized.
