Route 66 - San Bernadino, California

 

Home of California State University, San Bernardino, is home to many cultural and artistic sites. And also to the McDonald's Museum.

One of the oldest cities in California, San Bernardino was settled in 1810 but didn't establish itself for another 40 years when it became an important trading hub. It continued to be a busy and thriving community, including the establishment of Norton Air Force Base in the Second World War. And also a restaurant called McDonald's.

You can't avoid mentioning McDonald's when discussing San Bernardino, as the two have become inextricably linked in each other's histories. Dick and Mac McDonald were brothers and fast food pioneers; their first stab at success had been a hot dog stand in Pasadena in 1937 (not a hamburger in sight). When the opportunity came to open a restaurant in San Bernardino in 1940, they closed the hot dog stand and jumped at the chance. It's no longer a McDonald's but now serves as the company museum.

McDonald's was a hit. So much so that within 13 years, they began franchising their restaurant - or at least the system; franchising the entire concept, including the famous golden arches, came later. The brothers were still thinking small in terms of global domination until they partnered with Ray Kroc, who turned their ideas into what became the McDonald's Corporation. Ray purchased the company from the brothers for $2.7 million in 1961.

In 1984, the 50 billionth McDonald's hamburger was served - to Dick McDonald, the first cook behind any McDonald's grill.