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The World of Coca-Cola is a museum located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, showcasing the history of The Coca-Cola Company. The Template:Convert complex opened to the public on May 24, 2007, relocating from and replacing the original exhibit, which was founded in 1990 in Underground Atlanta.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> There are various similar World of Coca-Cola stores in locations such as Las Vegas and Disney Springs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
HistoryEdit
Original museum: 1990–2007Edit
The original World of Coca-Cola was located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, at 55 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, between the Georgia State Capitol and the Underground Atlanta shopping and entertainment district.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The museum opened in 1990, and would remain open until 2007.<ref name=":0" /> The original World of Coca-Cola saw around nine million visitors during its years of operation, becoming Atlanta's most visited indoor attraction until it was surpassed by the Georgia Aquarium in 2009.<ref name=":0" />
The museum was inspired to serve as a continuation of Coca-Cola history dating back to 1886. During this time, Dr. John S. Pemberton, a pharmacist from Atlanta, created a unique soft drink with a specific flavor syrup that was highly popular. Frank M. Robinson, his partner and bookkeeper, is responsible for the name of Coca-Cola as well as the well-known design of the script.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
The museum was located in a three-story pavilion, and its entrance had a huge neon Coca-Cola sign (30 feet high and 26 feet wide). This sign was built by Metals Manufacturing in West Valley, Utah. The tour started on the top floor and worked downwards, featuring approximately 1,000 Coca-Cola artifacts presented in chronological order, interactive exhibits such as a replica 1930s soda fountain, video presentations of Coca-Cola advertising over the years, and a 10-minute film about Coke around the world.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The tour featured the 'Spectacular Fountain,' where visitors were allowed to sample various Coke products. At the 'Tastes of the States' area in the same room, guests were able to try 22 different soft drink brands, some available only regionally.<ref name=":1" />
The 'Tastes of the World' exhibit was located in the International Lounge. There was also a gift shop.
The Georgia state government acquired the former World of Coca-Cola building for $1.1 million after Coca-Cola vacated the facility in 2007; the state would later acquire the surrounding land in 2016 as part of a property exchange with the Atlanta city government.<ref name="GA Gov">Template:Cite news</ref> State legislators had made proposals to install a state history museum in the building, but no action had been taken due to the cost of refurbishing the old World of Coca-Cola building as well as the lack of funding to do so.<ref name="GA Gov"/> In June 2024, the former World of Coca-Cola building was demolished for parking for the State Capitol complex to accommodate construction of a new legislative office building as well as renovations to the State Capitol building, which are projected to be completed in time for the 2027 legislative session.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Relocation and new facilities: 2007–presentEdit
The Atlanta museum was relocated to 121 Baker Street in Atlanta, just blocks away from where John Pemberton created the original Coca-Cola formula.<ref name=":0" /> The 92,000-square-foot building was constructed at a cost of $97 million and opened in 2007.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It is located in Atlanta, Georgia (where the company's headquarters are located) at Pemberton Place (named in honor of John Pemberton, the inventor of Coca-Cola). The Template:Convert complex is located across Baker Street from Centennial Olympic Park and is also home to the Georgia Aquarium and the Center for Civil & Human Rights. It opened to the public on May 24, 2007, relocating from and replacing the original exhibit.<ref name=":0" />
The museum features exhibits about the secret formula of Coca-Cola, a 3D movie where an intrepid scientist and his assistant set out to find the secret for themselves (featuring actors James Meehan and Jameelah Silva), and allows visitors to taste 60 different flavors from around the world.<ref name=":0" /> It also houses a fully functional bottling line that produced 8-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola for distribution to its guests. However, citing operation costs, since 2013, the plant runs in simulation as such practice was discontinued.Template:Citation needed
Non-Atlanta locationsEdit
Template:See also There are other World of Coca-Cola locations beyond Atlanta as well. Club Cool, formerly Ice Station Cool, is located in Walt Disney World's Epcot park. When it was called Ice Station Cool, the facade was themed to resemble a polar expedition with props such as a snowmobile. Like other Coca-Cola exhibits, it included an area where guests could taste Coca-Cola beverages from around the world. In 2016, the World of Coca-Cola opened in Disney Springs, which was modelled like the Atlanta attraction.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It features a sampling of Coca-Cola products from around the world.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
World of Coca-Cola Las Vegas, built in 1997, was located in the Showcase Mall on the Las Vegas Strip. It closed in 2000, but the Everything Coca-Cola store remains open.Template:Citation neededTemplate:When World of Coca-Cola Tokyo was located on the 6th floor of Mediage in Odaiba. It closed on January 15, 2007.Template:Citation needed There is also a Coca-Cola Museum in Taoyuan City, Taiwan as of 2007.<ref>Odd theme museums in Taiwan, page 185. In Robert Kelly and Joshua Samuel Brown, Taiwan, 7th edition. Lonely Planet, 2007. Template:ISBN.</ref>
GalleryEdit
- Old Atlanta, Georgia location
- Coca-Cola artifacts from the 19th, 20th & 21st century.jpg
Coca-Cola artifacts from the 19th, 20th & 21st century
- World of Coca Cola (Underground Atlanta, original location) (155551282).jpg
Exterior in 2006, between Underground Atlanta and Georgia State Capitol
- Worldofcocacola.jpg
Sign from the Atlanta museum in 2005, two years before it relocated
- Coca Cola Museum, Atlanta, USA2.jpg
Interior in 2005
- Coca Cola Museum, Atlanta, USA1.jpg
Sign in 2005
- Current Atlanta, Georgia location
- 2013.01.26.113703 World of Coca Cola Atlanta Georgia.jpg
Current World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia
- World-of-Coca-Cola-Atlanta.jpg
World of Coca-Cola exterior
- World of Coca-Cola exterior, 2019.jpg
Exterior as seen in June 2019
- Coca-Cola Museum.JPG
Interior in 2018
- World of Coca-Cola 08.JPG
Old machines at the current museum as of 2018
- World of Coca-Cola 06.JPG
Soda Bar in the exhibit "Milestones of Refreshment" as of 2018
- World of Coca-Cola 07.JPG
Delivery vehicle in the exhibit "Milestones of Refreshment" as of 2018
See alsoEdit
- Coca-Cola Museum in Taoyuan City, Taiwan
- List of food and beverage museums
- List of Coca-Cola buildings and structures
- List of Coca-Cola slogans
- Tourism in Atlanta
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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