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Dr, Pepper Museum in Waco

Bottoms Up at Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco, TX

Dr, Pepper Museum in Waco
You’ll find the museum at 300 S 5th St. in Waco

During our maiden voyage from Austin, TX to the Dallas area, we stopped over in Waco for lunch. (By the way, we ate at Bangkok Royal, purportedly the only Thai restaurant in town!)

As we followed directions to get to lunch, we passed a small street sign for the Dr. Pepper Museum. My favorite coke and one of my very favorite drinks – how could we resist?!

Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco
I was just a little bit excited

This three-story museum will entertain for a couple of hours. Add in a stop at the soda fountain for a Dr. Pepper float or milkshake, and you’re in for an enjoyable morning or afternoon.

Museum admission is $8 for adults, or $6 with a military ID. We thought the price was a bit on the steep side, but I don’t regret making the investment.

Dr. Pepper Museum Photo Tour

Dr. Pepper Equipment
Historical Dr. Pepper equipment

Dr. Pepper was invented at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in the late 1800’s in Waco, TX. That building no longer stands. The Dr. Pepper Museum marks the site of the original factory where the drink was originally manufactured and sold.

Dr. Pepper is the oldest major soda brand in the United States. Its patent was filed for December 1, 1885, beating out Coca-Cola by a year!

Dr. Pepper Museum Well
The Dr. Pepper water well was hidden for 60 years before it was discovered again

In addition to seeing original equipment, I loved looking into the old Dr. Pepper water well. The vast majority of soda is made up of water, so pure-tasting water is essential! The well at the Museum is still living, and during the wetter times of year (like now), you can see water at the bottom.

Dr-Pepper-10-2-and-4I loved how the Museum chronicled the many marketing campaigns that Dr. Pepper has used over time. A scientific study showing that people’s energy dropped at 10:30, 2:30 and 4:30 every day led to Dr. Pepper’s “10-2-4” campaign. You better believe that three a day will keep your energy up!

On the second floor, a TV is set up to show Dr. Pepper commercials by era. This was probably one of my favorite parts of our time there. It was fascinating to see the evolution of the brand and how different strategies speak to different generations!

Be a Pepper Dr. Pepper Ad
Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper?

Complete your visit with a trip to the soda fountain. A token you receive at admission will get you a tiny sample of Dr. Pepper, special because it’s made on the spot with syrup and a jet of water. If that’s not enough to satisfy (seriously, it’s a dentist-office-sized-Dixie-cup), the fountain menu is full of delicious treats like Dr. Pepper shakes and floats. We tried a float and enjoyed the mixture of Blue Bell ice cream and syrupy Dr. Pepper.

If you’re journeying down the I-35 corridor and want to do something more fun than dodge construction workers, we highly recommend the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco!

Dr. Pepper Museum

Written by:
BrittanyHighland
Published on:
March 4, 2014
Thoughts:
5 Comments

Categories: RV TravelTags: texas

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. CB Nash

    March 13, 2014 at 12:30 am

    Great article! if you ever get to Atlanta, check out Coca-Cola’s museum.

    CB Nash

    Reply
    • BrittanyHighland

      March 13, 2014 at 8:36 am

      Thanks for the tip, CB! What is your favorite thing to see or do there?

      Reply
  2. Russell & June

    March 22, 2014 at 11:06 am

    We passed Waco on our way to AZ for the winter and never stopped. What’s wrong with me? I LOVE Dr Pepper. The wife, not so much, she says it taste like medicine. I have to put this on the list to do for next time we are near Waco. Thanks for the post.

    Reply
    • BrittanyHighland

      March 25, 2014 at 1:55 am

      You will really enjoy the visit, Russell! From one Dr. Pepper fan to another. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jim Hummel

    April 5, 2015 at 3:11 am

    OMG! My favorite elixir !! Your post has given me even more motivation to visit here!

    Reply

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