Visiting the First McDonald's Site and Museum on Route 66 in San Bernardino, California

The first McDonald's site and unofficial Original McDonald's Museum in San Bernardino, California is a really fun stop on Route 66 and is filled with a ton of nostalgia. McDonald's is a huge part of American culture of the last 70 years and this is where it all started. the McDonald brothers moved their barbecue restaurant to this site in 1940. Later they realized that most of their sales were coming from hamburgers. So they shut down for 3 months in 1948 and reopened as a hamburger stand, and thus McDonald's was born. The original McDonald's building is long gone, but currently there is an excellent museum on site.

The museum features a ton of McDonald's history, especially when it comes to Happy Meals.The Happy Meal collection is insane. There is also a ton of other memorabilia, and even props from the Michael Keaton movie, The Founder.

The Original McDonald's Site and Museum is located at 1398 N E St, San Bernardino, CA 92405.

[roninatomi]

Sadly Albert Okura passed away January 27, 2023 and this video you made was a great way to celebrate his life. Albert grew up in Wilmington Ca, and his Father was already serving in the US military before WW2. Rest in Peace Albert

[god_of_the_universe]

I've driven by thousands of time's and never thought to take a tour through the museum. That's definitely a staple in the city of San Bernardino Ca.

[coyotegrad-collectables]

I live in Riverside. I went to the museum a few times over the year. Its definitely worth checking out.

[speedracerjeff]

Been there, it’s very cool! Like a blast from the past!
Also the historic Wig Wam motel isn’t far from this place too.
I overlooked the Juan Pollo museum and Amboy exhibit part. I love Juan Pollo though! And the military museum was closed when I went as well. I need to go back again.

[nautifella]

I attended and eventually taught at the university a few miles north of that location. It was the _Civic Light Opera_ for many years. It always bugged me that the acknowledgement of McDonalds was limited to the brass plaque located in the front.
As McDonalds grew and expanded, they pumped a lot of money into the local communities. They deserved better. I am happy to see it is being recognised now.

[dlmullins]

I remember getting a cheeseburger fries and drink and getting back a Nickel change in Manassas, Va back in the mid sixties. Interesting and informative video, thanks!

[CactusAtlas]

That mural is NUTS! 😲 I can't even imagine how long it would take to see everything in it. And yeah... looking at the happy meal toys must be a trip. To stop and note how many we might have had as kids. The feels...! (and yes, I definitely remember the transformer style ones. As well as the little Halloween nuggets even though I wasn't quite a kid anymore when those came out).

[joshuashibata]

Def digged the McDonald’s/Transformer happy meal. That’s the one I remember the most and the Bernstein bear one too

[billlong]

E Street and Kendall Drive were "City Route US 66." The main highway (along with US 91 and 395) used Mount Vernon Avenue and Cajon Boulevard, on the west side of the city.

[barrybach]

My favorite happy meal toy was far and away the Muppet Babies toys. I remember when I was 8 or 9, I was playing with my Muppet Baby toys at a house that my grandma cleaned. Either an older high school or college girl from the family saw me playing with them and she wanted to see all the ones that I had because she loved the cartoon and collected the toys as well. I’m pretty sure that’s the first time I fell in love in my life. LOL!

[jerroldkazynski]

Suburban Chicago was the location of my earliest McDonald's memory. Probably rode my bike over to one, bought their basic burger, fries & Coke using 2 dimes & 5 pennies in early '60s.
Lake Michigan is the starting point of Route 66.

[corinnelaking]

A big part of childhood here in Canada, too! I can still remember when they had the character statues in the dining areas. 🙂

[carolwessman]

HIYA STEVE -I GREW UP IN DOWNEY CA, AT THE TIME MCcDonalds was #2 & it Did NOT OPEN TILL 1953 - I JUST CHECED & THEY DIDNT START SELLING HAPPY MEALS TILL 1979 HUGGGS

[stevenjlovelace]

My favorite McDonald's toy was the Astrosniks alien figurines. My parents sold jewelry at flea markets when I was a kid, and would give me a few bucks to spend, which I usually spent on either coins (buffalo nickels and wheat pennies) or McDonald's toys.

[JasmineApple]

Very cool! I've been to the oldest McDonald's in Downey, which has a much smaller museum. I also found the next oldest original McDonald's structure - now a donut store - in Brea. The area was industrial, a little sketchy, & a parking lot full of potholes, but it was still cool to see! I'll have to head over to SB to see this one! Good video!

[kaygeehkali]

I lived one this street I grew up around this place walking from San Bernardino High School was so fun

[colder]

I was in the California conservation corps in 92/93 living in the area for a year..walked past the place unfortunately it was closed...I wished I had visited it before I moved home back up to northern cali...

[larryaldrich]

Feel very badly about being priced out of McDonalds. Many fond memories.

[antonioperez]

This is a fantastic video. I didn't know a museum existed.

[birdman]

We checked that place out a few years ago, pretty cool👍
Good stuff MrSteve☺️