Dr Pepper is the unofficial drink of Texas — not only because it’s delicious, but also due to the fact that it was invented right here in the Lone Star State. Learn all about its origins, and take a peek inside the museum commemorating the soda with 23 fruit flavors.

Our state's signature soft drink dates to 1885, when a young pharmacist named Charles Alderton created it right here at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in Texas. He liked the way fruit syrups made the store smell and set out on a mission to formulate the perfect recipe. This timeline makes Dr Pepper the oldest major soft drink in America!
Facebook/Dr Pepper Museum
Although the drugstore is no longer open, the Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute in Waco commemorates the rich history of the soda. Housed in the 1906 Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company where Dr Pepper was first commercially produced, the museum holds a rightful place on the National Register of Historic Places.
TripAdvisor/Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute
Inside, the entire soft drink industry - not just Dr Pepper - is used as a model to teach students about developing, producing, and marketing products. A collection of over 300,000 artifacts features a wealth of information about many different soda companies, with exhibits ranging from their histories to old bottles and everything in between.
TripAdvisor/comansandrew
A replica Old Corner Drug Store serves as a portal to the very place where Dr Pepper began. Take a gander around and see not only what pharmacies of old looked like, but also how Alderton arrived at the concoction that would change the world.
TripAdvisor/phillupi

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You'll learn all sorts of fun facts about our beloved Dr Pepper, including how the company was relocated to Dallas in 1923. The original headquarters still served as a bottling franchise until an F5 tornado all but destroyed it 30 years later. Remains of the building are visible even to this day from Mary Street!
TripAdvisor/msalcaraz2015
Betcha didn't know about the bottling process for Dr Pepper! It's really quite fascinating, especially if you're a science buff who enjoys watching machinery in action.
TripAdvisor/Na-son F
Various advertisements show how the marketing of Dr Pepper evolved over the years. From the very first slogan, "King of Beverages," to today's "There's just more to it," the campaign has utilized many different tactics to boost sales. This particular ad ran during wartime, depicting a soldier being offered a Dr Pepper to keep his energy up.
TripAdvisor/RAYMONDB385
Don't forget to swing by the onsite soda fountain before heading out! Enjoy a cold Dr Pepper and let the retro memorabilia take you straight back to the days of poodle skirts, sockhops, and jukeboxes. There's also a gift shop with souvenirs to remember your visit by.
TripAdvisor/Chris

For additional information about this fascinating museum in Texas, you can check out their website or Facebook page for updates. Or, you can enjoy an old-fashioned Dr Pepper made with pure cane sugar at Old Doc’s Soda Shop in Dublin!

Have you ever been to the Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute? If so, we’d love to hear all about your trip! Check out our previous article for more Texas inventions: 12 Things We Love That Were Invented In Texas.

Are there any restaurants, businesses, or other attractions in Texas you think the world should know about? Head over to our nomination page and give them a shoutout — you just might see your submission featured in an upcoming article!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Old Corner Drug Store in Texas

Beth C. | June 24, 2021

What are some fascinating historic places in Texas?

It's perhaps unsurprising that a state as vast as Texas would be home to so many historic destinations. The Lone Star State has an extensive history that's both fascinating and troubling, and there are many places where you can delve into the past. From museums to historic sites, each destination tells a different facet of Texas's lengthy history. Some of the most interesting historical sites in Texas include Presidio La Bahia, San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, the Alamo, Texas State Capital, Historic Stockyards District, the Sixth Floor Museum, Nacogdoches, Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, Battleship Texas, and Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum. Curious to explore all of these places? We've mapped them out in a convenient road trip!

What else was invented in Texas?

Now that you've learned all about how Dr Pepper was invented right here in Texas, you may be interested to learn that there were some other famous things that started right here in the Lone Star State. Some of the most useful and well-known inventions that came out of Texas include handheld calculators, frozen margaritas, Ruby Red Grapefruit, 3-D printing, nachos eaten at the stadium, Dell computers, liquid paper, and Whole Foods. Did you know that any of these things were invented in the Lone Star State?

What are the best museums in Texas?

For a fascinating look at Texas's history and culture, there's nothing better than a trip to a local museum. Texas boasts some of the finest museums in the country, and each of them is worth exploring. Some of the best museums in Texas include the Houston Museum on Natural Science, National Museum of the Pacific War, Space Center Houston, Dallas Museum of Art, LBJ Presidential Library, Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Kimbell Art Museum, Bullock Texas State History Museum, Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and the Children's Museum of Houston.

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Dr Pepper Museum, 300 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76701, USA