History & Soda at The Soda Museum in St. Charles, Missouri

History & Soda at The Soda Museum in St. Charles, Missouri | History Traveler Episode 350

Рет қаралды 62,188

2 ай бұрын

What could a massive collection of soda memorabilia possibly teach us about history? That's what we're diving into with our visit to The Soda Museum in St. Charles, Missouri. This place is AMAZING and you'll definitely want to watch this one from beginning to end.
This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory...
Support the effort to expand history education on PATREON: / historyunderground
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Пікірлер: 366

@jasonparsons7485 2 ай бұрын

Royal Crown cola was popular here in the south it might not have been as popular other places of the country but most know it now as RC cola

@tiffanyclaycomb6494 2 ай бұрын

RC cola also was extremely instrumental in the civil rights movement

@derekrupert2013 2 ай бұрын

RC is awesome. Grew up in Pa and our local distributor had an RC machine. Summer fave of mine

@astridgalactic9336 2 ай бұрын

I remember RC being the budget cola product, just above the various store brands. Personally, I didn't like it as much. Too watery for me... but like all kids, I drank it anyway.

@marktatum2592 2 ай бұрын

I have a 2 litre bottle of RC in my fridge right now, just chillin'. "Me and my RC"

@ericspratt3164 2 ай бұрын

We used to put the old 16 oz. glass RC bottles in the snow while we made homemade pizza. It would get a little slushy and perfect. Illinois

@stnkyp8 2 ай бұрын

RC and a Moon Pie was very popular combo here in the south…

@barclayericson6662 2 ай бұрын

And great title of a NRBQ song 😅

@jdeaton5093 Ай бұрын

Aaah....yes an RC Cola and a Moon Pie was the "go to" when I was a kid growing up in NC, but don't forget the "four corner nabs"!

@Familylawgroup Күн бұрын

As a fellow St. Charles resident, transplanted from St. Louis, and a lifelong resident of Metro St, Charles, I really appreciate your channel. I work in the new courthouse and I have walked right past the museum and I never noticed the museum. I am excited to try to find it and visit this week. Thanks for letting us know about it,

@RedHeadedTsunami 2 ай бұрын

The refrigerated CocaCola vending machine I first ran into was one where you'd pay and open a long, thin door on one side of the front. It was at a gas station inside the office. Mama had given me change to get my own. But, my fingers weren't strong enough to get the bottle fully out and I didn't dare let it go. With my fingers freezing, I was stuck. The Gas Station man finally noticed what was going on and just pulled that bottle right out, took the lid off and handed it to me. Cold CocaCola in a glass bottle just tasted better.

@johnbowers7115 2 ай бұрын

I live in St Charles this museum is a real jewel for our downtown area

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 ай бұрын

100%

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 ай бұрын

100%

@TiredMomma 2 ай бұрын

And the arcade is fun

@phantom193 2 ай бұрын

very cool content JD. I love your war stuff but i wouldnt mind you doing other history topics like this occasionally! very educational. Since the history channel sucks now I think there's a need for this type of content!

@oldtanker4860 2 ай бұрын

You'd probably enjoy the Dr Pepper museum in Waco TX too. I used a couple of this vintage dispensers for bottles when I was a kid. I'm 70 now.

@KCPrible98 2 ай бұрын

Oh, Bummer. We live 12 miles west. We would have hooked up had We known. We have been enjoying your Weldon Springs episode. My wife used to work just east of it a few miles. God Bless You today and all the Vets who made it possible to live in a Free country .

@Necrosophy17 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for shedding light on this new spot! Locals are very proud of Main Street, StC.

@Navyrifleshooter 2 ай бұрын

When I was a kid in the 70s, growning up in rural WV, Royal Crown Cola was about all my parents bought. That cooler brought back some memories. Thanks

@19202557 2 ай бұрын

6oz RC and pack of peanuts in the bottle.

@DavidDragonhammer 2 ай бұрын

Crown Cola is sold still at Walmart in the midwest,I have a 12 pack am looking at right now.

@hoosiercrypto9955 2 ай бұрын

My uncle worked for RC. Dad worked for 7up and I worked summers merchandising.. 👍

@RedHeadedTsunami 2 ай бұрын

I thought RC Cola was a Southern thing.

@billbertke7778 2 ай бұрын

Still drink it to this day! $1.29 2 liters here in Northern Kentucky. Still the best cola!

@anthonycalbillo9376 2 ай бұрын

I don't want to date myself, but, when I was a kid, a bottle was about 50 cents. And we played in the streets until the street lights came on! We rode our bikes without helmets, played on metal playground equipment, and used iodine for our cuts!

@jamesdellaneve9005 2 ай бұрын

I visit the Stl area a lot and eat in St Charles. I’ll have to check this out. It’s a quaint town.

@phyllisdellinger7800 2 ай бұрын

There was nothing like a icey cold coke from one of the reach in coolers, like at a gas station etc. great memories

@jimreilly917 2 ай бұрын

If your Coke was near bottom your arm was near numb by the time you pulled it out🥶😃😎

@wandagarrett942 2 ай бұрын

“I like the old stuff”…..me too😃!

@robinsmith5442 2 ай бұрын

The soda cooler at our store had sliding panels on top and it would hold 2 of the wooden crates with cold water coming half way up.

@Gitarzan66 2 ай бұрын

I was 18 The summer of 85 when Max 1st appeared. It was such a trip at the time. We had never seen any graphics that looked like that before. It even went on to become a sitcom for a couple years.

@cleverusername9369 2 ай бұрын

I'm shocked that JD has never heard of RC Cola

@Tom-em4ph 2 ай бұрын

I can understand why they got rid of bottles but as a kid I loved the bottle soda dispenser and loved taking the bottle cap off great 👍 memories

@lorikrafft8197 2 ай бұрын

I share your love of old thing!!!! I like vintage antiques

@brianprather3261 2 ай бұрын

I’m 47 I remember as a kid the cigarette vending machines with the pull tab

@FoulOwl2112 2 ай бұрын

Nice to get a little break from the war related stuff.

@nathansimpson5721 2 ай бұрын

I live in the area and I'll literally be going here today with some friends. It's a great spot

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 ай бұрын

Awesome! Be sure to tell them that you saw the video. 🙂

@wisecracker1814 2 ай бұрын

My hometown! My parents moved there in '53 when I was 1 yr old, I graduated SCHS in '70, came back after being overseas in the Army in '73 & lived there 'til '83. Loved it back then, more Mayberry-ish than it is now. Another interesting history fact about St. Charles... Lewis & Clark started & ended their famous journey west on the St Charles riverfront. There's also a floating museum for them on the riverfront. Hope you caught that while in town, History Traveler..!

@beezertwelvewashingbeard2519 2 ай бұрын

i grew up not to far from there in a small town called Breese, IL . that town is famous 2 things. Wally's hamburgers, and SKI soda. If you can try to visit the Excel bottling plant. It's a great drink.

@dnldcow 2 ай бұрын

Well this makes me feel really old, I remember sodas at 10 cents , the Rexall Drug with the soda counter when I was young in the early sixties, thank you for bring this to us JD.

@drinkmesilly 2 ай бұрын

My friend loved Coca-Cola so much. He was buried with a 1932 coke bottle. Cool video it reminded me of him. THANK YOU.

@cherylpalian3254 2 ай бұрын

Love this type of history. Would love to see more of these museums as you travel.

@SoCal780 2 ай бұрын

What really struck me was that as a truck driver, I literally drive through St. Charles, Missouri every day on Highway 370. Had no idea that this place was there. So cool, so nostalgic, and so massive as far as his collection goes. I can’t believe that what you showed us was only 30%! He’s going to need a bigger building. Maybe he could negotiate with the Lemp Brewery people?😂 Another awesome video, thanks, JD.

@kathleendaugherty4218 2 ай бұрын

When I was young, in the 1950's and one of us kids were sick, mom would call the doctor. Before he made a house call, he would have her go to the soda fountain and get coke syrup. She was to give us that medicinally. I remember taking it, but I don't remember much more about it.

@sheilatruax6172 2 ай бұрын

My mom used a lot of flattened 7-Up! Good times!

@cherylschantz9893 2 ай бұрын

@@sheilatruax6172we used 7 up, too. It actually helped!

@earlyriser8998 2 ай бұрын

Wow this brings back so many memories. These vending machines or coolers were everywhere. There were a few shops that still made a 'soda pop' by mixing syrup and carbonated water when I grew up in the 1960's. All gone now. BUT in the 1990's we found a shop in west Texas north of Amarillo that still served 'soda pop' with syrups and water. All soda Coca Cola and Dr Pepper and 7 Up. We stopped and hung out there for an hour. And bought a large drink to go. Great Taste in every drink. Does he have a fountain!

@JasonNonn Ай бұрын

It's fun to find cool things like this less than an hour from my home. Planning the trip now.

@tedlawrence4189 2 ай бұрын

Back in the '60s RC ran a promotion on their 16 oz. bottles. Under the cork under the cap might have 10, to 50c written. These were redeemable for a discount on more RC. This was fun for this teen.

@RiseFromTheDead 2 ай бұрын

I had no clue about the green vs clear glass during WWll. That is fascinating!

@digital-nature-uk 2 ай бұрын

A wonderful snapshot of history from a pop culture perspective 😃

@giannideangelo7340 2 ай бұрын

haha I see what you did there

@digital-nature-uk 2 ай бұрын

@@giannideangelo7340 I would like to say it was intentional!

@user-tv3id2nf5o 2 ай бұрын

Hey JD...THANKS for working over Memorial Day!!!!!!

@johnstup4479 2 ай бұрын

That museum is truly an amazing place JD. I can remember the Coke vending machines with the dark wood paneling on them when I was young. Remembered Coke in the 8-pack glass bottles too. When I started working at a supermarket back in 1983, customers would return those 8-packs and get 10 cents a bottle for them. I would write up a slip and give it to the customer and they would take it to a cashier and get 80 cents back. Thanks for showing us this place JD!

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 ай бұрын

Glad that you enjoyed it!

@Necrosophy17 2 ай бұрын

I checked this place out shortly after it opened. You pointed out a few things I had overlooked, though! Getting to talk to the owner is part of the joy, he is a reservoir of knowledge.

@MichaelBaker-yu7mw 2 ай бұрын

You have never heard of RC cola? Royle crown

@pmccoy8924 2 ай бұрын

My great great grandad was a soldier in the 26th PA Emergency Militia, the first union regiment to engage with Confederates, Jubal's men, at Gettysburg. He was an attorney in Williamsport, PA and tried to start his own soda business. Remnants of the company still exist on eBay and such but it never took off. Was called, Kola Mint.

@cyndiebill6631 2 ай бұрын

There was a personal cooler there that my family had and I grew up with in the 50s and 60s. I remember taking it to the beach and on camping trips. This was fun and brought great memories back of my childhood. I still today prefer Coke over any another soda product to this day.😊👍

@toharms3081 2 ай бұрын

Glad to see some Vernon’s memorabilia there. In Michigan and other areas of the Midwest love Vernon’s. It was started right after the civil war and is one of a kind taste.

@fourcups1 2 ай бұрын

Love your work as always! Are you sure that you’re not in Atlanta, the home of Coca Cola? I am a Pepsi guy and saw only two Pepsi items…a cooler. and some advertisement. Pepsi is still number one! Have a safe Memorial Day.

@jaeves007 2 ай бұрын

Then you need to go to New Bern, NC and visit the birthplace of Pepsi :) it's a charming town

@eightballcuet 2 ай бұрын

Awesome. The no drip sleevess remind me of modern day cozies

@GrandmaRose9000 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for showing us all the fine, smaller museums tucked away in smaller towns. So interesting. Love the Soda Museum and never knew it existed. Thank you so much.

@PastorTitus52 2 ай бұрын

Very nostalgic, JD. I remember Coke, DP, Nehi, and RC way back in the '50s. Max Headroom was played by an actor who also played in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" as the next door neighbor. He has also played villains in a few others. Thanks JD for the great job you are doing for history.

@DustinBryson Күн бұрын

Love this. I live in St. Charles and haven't been there yet. You are making me want to check it out. Thank you for sharing.

@TheHistoryUnderground Күн бұрын

You should! Thanks!

@giannideangelo7340 2 ай бұрын

Very cool JD. and Royal Crown Cola = RC Cola great video sir 🍻

@totalperformancediesel8328 2 ай бұрын

guys never heard of rc !

@mikemercer5808 2 ай бұрын

As much as I love war history, this video just touched my heart. Seeing all of this soda memorabilia just brought back so many memories of when I was a kid in the 70's. Thank you so much for the video, as always it was just incredible!

@terryeustice5399 2 ай бұрын

JD I’m a Coca Cola collector. Love this. I have Coca Cola Train and a city. Under my Christmas tree. And ornaments on my tree. Like you just love it. Thank you for this buddy! 💯💕👊👍

@TiredMomma 2 ай бұрын

I spotted an old Coca Cola cooler, sitting outside some old abandoned business, somewhere down route 185, going towards Sullivan, in Franklin county, Mo. It's been there for who knows how long but it don't look so bad.

@dodg1988 2 ай бұрын

I'll admit, I mostly check out your Civil War and WWII videos but this video is fantastic. A beautiful collection of Americana through the years. I'll add it to my list

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@57Banjoman 2 ай бұрын

St Charles is a cool place-got to spend a weekend there years ago. One of my favorite memories is that of our Dad taking us to Putt Putt golf, and getting us a Coke when we were done-10 cents!

@barbaramai7610 2 ай бұрын

Love this video, makes me want to go there! I no longer drink much soda, but Coca Cola was my very favorite as a kid. Well done, JD, and thanks for this one!

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

@marypasco2213 2 ай бұрын

JD, I find I must write and THANK YOU for all your channels. I will never, physically, get to any of the places you have taken us to. The places you go to are even better than the 'Travelogs' of the '40's and '50's. IMHO. So thankful for all your hard work. Please don't stop. ❤

@connielynes4835 Ай бұрын

All the old stuff is pretty neat love looking at all the old stuff I'm 62 and I seen a lot of stuff and some I haven't seen

@nanetterolph2972 2 ай бұрын

So many fascinating things! I to love old things over some new things! I love antiques!!!

@jenniferchurch4154 2 ай бұрын

It's my home! I love seeing this.

@beglitchery 2 ай бұрын

I grew up in St Charles - my nana owned a store on Main St for decades until she retired, Morgie’s Gifts N Things at 508 S Main. It’s a mother in law house; the other side used to have the Tintypery. In the same area you’ll find the museum for the first state capitol

@ThreeZeroOne 2 ай бұрын

Ditto to new/different history videos. We all love old stuff, too. Especially in the face of the Brave New World. Here's to others clinging on and wistful. Love the small town tour in general, too. You should cover (some of) Appalachia! Also fun fact, someone may have already shared, some WWII pilots affixed soda bottles under their wings so they'd be cold upon landing

@jrosnov 2 ай бұрын

I’m glad you’re back and I enjoy your videos 😊Hi from coastal Maine 😊

@jamesedkins2823 2 ай бұрын

Wow a guy that has a history channel prefers old stuff... who knew 😂 great video JD. Love your work!

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 ай бұрын

😂

@DRAGONSLAYER1220 2 ай бұрын

JD, here's a conversation you'll hear only here in Texas: " Ya wanna Coke?" "Yeah sure!" "What kind?" "Dr Pepper." But, oh to get my hands on an old Coke crate!

@curtvona4891 2 ай бұрын

Nice! Love the blues music playing in the background.

@emilybazan1549 2 ай бұрын

You are an awesome guide/teacher. I enjoy everything you show on this channel. God be with you always. Thank you 🙏🏽

@Archerfish1977 2 ай бұрын

Years ago there was a Coca-Cola bottling plant here in Elizabethtown, Ky and they had a huge museum of Coke memorabilia. Watching this video is rather nostalgic of all the neat items they had there.

@Wreckdiver59 2 ай бұрын

A good old Americana video is always welcome 👍 That was a very well presented museum. There were plenty of things I could relate to growing up. Max Headroom was around before he became the spokesman for new coke. I can remember the TV series and there was a movie and series in the UK before the US TV series.

@stantonsee2357 2 ай бұрын

I have heard of Royal Crown Cola all my life. The saying that I have heard most of my life is "RC cola and a Moon Pie". This saying came about when workers could get a RC cola and a Moon Pie for 5 cents which would serve as their lunch during the depression.

@giselegamble9973 22 күн бұрын

I have been to St Charles but missed seeing this museum. Definitely going back!!

@judygrandstrand9784 2 ай бұрын

What a wonderful museum! History an be told many ways!

@faro1875 2 ай бұрын

Great museum for sure. Even more impressive is that it is only 30% of Tom's collection.

@MrBradleyDavid 2 ай бұрын

When I was in the service, we went on maneuvers in Egypt. There was a loan building just off crossroad in the middle of nowhere that sold refreshments. It had to be 115 120° with no shade. My commander bought me a Canada dry cola.by far that was the best cola I have ever had, made with real sugar no less. That was about 1993.

@stephenbarabas6286 2 ай бұрын

I'm convinced Max Hedroom would make a better President than the last few Presidents we have had.

@joenickell6323 Ай бұрын

Better than Biden no doubt

@NDB469 2 ай бұрын

Very cool stuff

@elizabethtaylor3779 2 ай бұрын

Really enjoyed this! Growing up in metro Atlanta, we drank Cokes nonstop; Coke products were ubiquitous, and to this day, when someone asks if you want a coke, it's a term that covers any carbonated beverage, not just Coca Cola per se. Royal Crown Cola (aka RC Cola) is a Columbus, Ga based company and parent to such sub brands as Nehi, Chero cola and Diet Rite. Here in the South, moon pies are requisite with an RC cola. Thanks for this fun, interesting and informative video; more like it, please

@Locustandhoney 2 ай бұрын

Just east of Oklahoma City on Route 66 is a soda shop called Pop’s Soda shop. It boasts 700+ different bottles of soda. Now I have to go get a black cherry cream soda bc of your video…. 😃

@michaelkennedy7352 2 ай бұрын

I've watched most of your work, but I think I enjoyed that one the most. Surprised you didn't know RC cola. Remember many of the items. Fun, fun, fun!

@michaelpfister1283 2 ай бұрын

Great video! I have missed these "rambling" videos. I first found you when you were travelling around the mid-west doing videos on places like the Corn Museum. :-) Loved the content then and I am very happy to see it return! Keep 'em coming!

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 ай бұрын

😅👍🏻

@krtrains123 2 ай бұрын

Kool soda history goes great with hotdogs and hamburgers on Memorial Day

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 ай бұрын

👍🏻

@pigoff123 2 ай бұрын

We hardly ever drank soda growing up. It is interesting though.

@wtfbuddy1 2 ай бұрын

Amazing collection, thanks for sharing JD. Cheers

@ginamaria2579 2 ай бұрын

I love Saint Charles. I make it a point to go often. ☺️💕 Really great video.

@TheHistoryUnderground 2 ай бұрын

Yes! Thank you!

@gunnarsalmonson962 2 ай бұрын

I know this is a little off subject, but thinking about cool museums in Missouri - i would live to see a video of you visiting the Arabia Steamboat Museum in downtown Kansas City. It's a fascinating look at the thousands of pieces of cargo that were recovered from a fully loaded Missouri River steamboat that sank in 1856 while taking trade goods up river to the frontier. The ship was found in 1988 and excavated in a cornfield a half a mile from the present course of the Missouri river. It's cargo gives a great insight into 1850s life.

@zekesgirl100 2 ай бұрын

The cargo was described as an 1856 Wal Mart

@lorikrafft8197 2 ай бұрын

I have a very fond memory of a toy Coca-Cola dispenser that was about the size of the personal coolers. It was so incredibly special to me. I wish so much. I still had it today we thought it was so special to put our cup underneath the dispenser and have Coke come out of this toy machine.

@tazloon 2 ай бұрын

In Chicago you'd always get a free liter of RC with your pizza order, some of the older establishments still do it.....😊

@johncovington9471 2 ай бұрын

What?! Have you never heard of RC Cola and Moon Pies?! That is a big deal in the South. When I moved to Alabama from Indiana, I took a ton of grief about it. Now, I go to the soda shop in Bell Buckle, Tennessee just to have some and laugh.

@Chris-lh7wj 2 ай бұрын

It’s interesting how much of a part of American history soda has played, especially my grandparents generation (WW2). My grandfather would say how he would go to the drug store and they had like a soda bar…not really sure how to picture it, especially in a drug store, but certainly very different than how we consume soda today.

@cherylschantz9893 2 ай бұрын

I love the idea of commemorative coke bottles!

@joefera8947 2 ай бұрын

Royal Crown Cola is better known as RC Cola and was distributed by 7-Up. I think it was recently discontinued. I may be wrong on that. Also, it’s funny seeing Dr. Pepper say they have no caffeine, which they do have now. Lol

@CreatorInTrng 2 ай бұрын

I grew up in the St. Louis area and never knew it existed. Thanks!

@karengailpetty7159 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for this one. Fun break!

@sherriianiro747 2 ай бұрын

I was the onlly one growing up that loved the lemon - lime of Sprite, which to me was better than Fresca which had more of a grapefruit taste. Oh those were the days! 😊

@irishpride1186 2 ай бұрын

I like when you also do these type of episodes! Thanks for the upload!

@TribeTaz 2 ай бұрын

Grape Nehi was Radar, from MASH, favorite drink. My dad worked for the company when i was growing up

@billireland2029 2 ай бұрын

If no one has mentioned this already, I believe Nehi was one of the props used in the series MASH....specifically grape Nehi for Radar when he wanted a drink.

@FeralSheryl1818 2 ай бұрын

Enjoyed this ty

@joemabry9643 2 ай бұрын

Coolers are cool as heck! Smile. Thank you.

@aletabowling4389 2 ай бұрын

Enjoyed this video very much, JD! Really interesting! Thank you!

@vickihough6060 2 ай бұрын

Royal Crown Cola was all we drank as kids in Wisconsin.

@Zwicken1776 2 ай бұрын

I remember using those hand fans in our church in the 80's.

@karentrimmer 2 ай бұрын

Have you never watch M.A.S.H.? Radar O'Reilly always wanted his Grape NEHI. It was very popular in the 60s. It came in all kinds of flavors: grape, orange, lime, cola, raspberry, strawberry, root beer... There were ice cube trays you could buy that came with popsicle sticks to make your own popsicles at home.