Original McDonald's Site and Museum Reviews

This was a great stop on our journey! They had a huge collection of McDonald's memorabilia and an outstanding tour guide working the front. He was awesome at giving the story and the perfect directions to get to the Santa Monica pier! The outside has a fantastic mural on the wall and a lot of different McDonald's playground equipment. A must-stop if in the area!

A must see for McDonald's enthusiasts. I wish I could have spent more time here, there was so much to see.

For those of us old enough to remember the original McDonald's and the early days of its operations, this is a must see. All the promotional stuff and restaurant decor are represented in the extensive collections. All are open to the public to view free of charge but leave them a donation or buy something from their gift shop. In a residential area of San Bernardino north of downtown there is parking either on the property or on the adjacent streets. Unfortunately, no food is served here so visitors cannot sample the McDonald's fare.

We stopped out of curiosity and found a unique private museum that features old photos and "objets" de McDonalds, including old scultptures of hamburglar, Ronald, and etc. It is mostly toys and displays and there is something to enjoying the nostalgia over memoribilia from one's own McDonald's era (the 1982 happy meal drinking glasses we used to have were on display - good to see those again). But also, the outside of the building is a giant mural in progress by a local artist, and we really enjoyed carefully looking through all sides of it. It features southern California industry on one side, and California celebrated cartoon artists on another - rather spectacular, really.

This museum is pure nostalgia, starting in the parking lot. Inside there's memorabilia not only from every decade but from other countries. It's free to visit and there's free parking.

It is a great experience to enter and see part of the McDonalds history inside, from all over the world and photos from several places, from Japan to Croatia.
The place is disorganized and it may be strange to enter and no one inside.
The outside is not worth to see and it feels as an abandoned place.

Ok, so this is a weird place and not a great neighborhood to visit. But if you are in the area and want to see some history on McDonalds and Route 66, it's a must.

I was in San Bernardino and decided to check out the site of the first and original McDonald's restaurant ever opened. Today at the site, which is now a building that houses corporate headquarters and a McDonald's museum, and is the site of the original location where the McDonald brothers opened their first restaurant "McDonald's Bar-B-Que" which they ran from 1940-48. At that same location In Oct 1948 they closed the BBQ and in December 1948 opened McDonald's Hamburgers featuring the "speedy service" system and sold 15c Hamburgers and 10c fries. The original octagonal shaped building was torn down and replaced with the new "Golden Arches" design in 1953 the same year that saw 3 other McDonald's locations open in Arizona and So California. In 1954 Ray Kroc convinced the brothers to let him franchise McDonald's and he opened his first store in 1955 in Des Plaines, Illinois. Although it was the 9th McDonald's to open he names his store McDonald's #1 and his first store is now the Official McDonald's Museum. Although the original San Bernardino site was demolished in the 1970's a building was built on the site which was not a restaurant, but is the corporate headquarters for "Juan Pollo" a chain of Mexican style Chicken restaurants. The building houses the corporate offices and staff and is a combination office and museum. I arrived and was given a guided tour by Jim Valdez who was a fountain of knowledge of all things McDonald's and San Bernardino history. There are fascinating displays and memorabilia of McDonald's and also Route 66 which went through San Bernardino. I highly recommend stopping by this place and its free. Don't miss the murals that are painted on the north and south sides of the building. A fun time to go down memory lane.

Our family grew up on McDonalds so we enjoyed seeing all of the knicknacky collector stuff that has been handed out over the years. Brought back lots of memories for both of us. It is a really
"tacky" museum but what would you expect...it houses all of the plastic-ness of McDonalds: the straws, hats, aprons, milkshake machines, lots of memorabilia,etc. And the host loves his job! He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

Free fun for everyone!

a truly amazing collection of McDonalds memorabilia from around the world, a great place to see the history of the brand.

The history of this Museum is confusing. It’s not the first McDonald’s or the oldest McDonald’s. It’s the site where McDonald’s BBQ, which was rebranded McDonald’s and then de-branded when Ray Kroc bought the name, WAS located (the building was demolished decades ago). The only original item here is the first Golden Arches from the store, displayed outside the building now on the site. The free museum on the building is owned by a chicken restaurant and honors that history, and doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is.

What it is now, besides being a location of something that isn’t there anymore, is a museum of McDonald’s memorabilia, mostly Happy Meal toys and branded service items from years past. It’s very small, maybe 1,000 square feet, and there’s little information beyond the early history of McDonald’s or curation - it’s just a bunch of stuff in display cases that is likely to restore childhood memories of Happy Meals and toys. The most interesting items are the memorabilia from McDonald’s stores in other countries.

There is, honestly, not a lot here. But it’s free and doesn’t claim to be more than what it is.

Pros: Curators John and Eric are both knowledgeable and passionate about McDonald's beginning history. Lots..Lots of Happy Meal's toys on display. Admission's free
Cons: It is kind of scruffy as one commenter has mentioned. I expected that this place would be ran or sponsored by McDonald's corporation, but apparently not.

It was fun to see and to take pics but it was much smaller than I thought it would be. I learned some of the history about McDonald’s that I didn’t know before.

If you like McDonald’s toys and memorabilia this place is a must. Crammed to the hilt with toys and images it would be easy to spend a couples of hours here. The murals outside are also worth spending
some time with, but best is to get chatting with the staff for whom this museum really is a passion.

This is a labor of love ...obviously lots off work and money went in to this, and it is free and the host who was there loved his museum and loved his guests. Everyone there was delighted looking around.

Who would have thought that "McDonald's" and "nourishing" would work in the same sentence? This temple to American entrepreneurship is a truly fulfilling experience -- and it's free. There's a lot to take in here -- photos, documents and tons of Happy Meal memorabilia. Liberals from San Francisco would be outraged. But actually, this museum is run completely independently of McDonald's, as you'll be advised as soon as you step in. In some ways it's a tragic reminder of how disrespectful California is to its history. The original restaurant is long gone, torn apart by vandals and time, and the lot was empty for many years. The original (?) sign and a stone marker were the only indications of its storied history. It seems everything in this decaying state is knocked over after 30 years. Sad.

One would think Mickey D would put some $ into showing off their beginnings, however it's not to be.

Still interesting to visit...to think of the history from that point.

Nice small museum with so many of the happy meal toys. It was fun to see how the chain started as a hot dog them Bar B Q before turning to just hamburgers. So nice that it's history is being saved.

The owners of museum have done a great job of keeping these memories alive. Don't forget to look at their murals around the building.

What a great place. Loved looking around the McDonald's history. Blast from the past the little aluminum ashtrays we used to steal in my teens and use at home. Such a worthy archive.

this place is amazing! I enjoyed my visit, brought back a lot of childhood memories and memories of my son's childhood. The mural(s) out side are so much fun to look at, I plan to go back to see the progress!! I took over 300 photos!!!

As soon as my cousin and I got there we were amazed with the inside and out. I highly recommend this museum...When visiting make sure to end your day with a McDonald's meal that'll complete your day 🤗.

What a difference a few decades make! Cool to see where fast food began - a little bit of Americana!

We got there too early to see the inside, but did get some fun photos outside. The museum seems to be in a shady area of town, even though we did not see or have any issues.

Nice McDonald's museum. Free. Dedicated and friendly volunteers. Lots of Happy Meal toys throughout the years. Nice to stop by if in the area, but probably isn't really a "destination" location. Rated 3 because we'd made this a destination for part of the day driving several hours roundtrip. Fun to see some of the original playground toys from when we were young.

Museum is free to the public. Outside of the museum is cool art, murals, and cars. Inside of the museum is everything about the history of McDonald's. The curator was nice and very informative. He gladly answered all of our questions. The museum journeys through the history of the music and houses artifacts, from signs, packaging, toys, and other memorabilia.

Basically, the main reason to visit is to say you've been to the original McDonalds. If you just want to say that you've been there, the biggest thing you can do is take a picture with the original sign.

Inside, there is a TON of memorabilia and other historical items. I'm glad it was free since it seemed kind of junky and I wouldn't have paid money to enter. It seemed more like someone's personal collection than an actual museum. That being said, I'm sure there are huge McDonald's fans who would enjoy the museum since they do have a very thorough collection of memorabilia.

If you want to say you've been, go! Otherwise, only go if you're a diehard fan.

Great place to visit. Just this week I was talking to a friend in Northern California and he was unaware that the original McDonald's was located in San Bernardino. He plans to visit on his next trip here.

Lots to look at inside and out.
Highly recomended. All kinds of toys from around the world. Lots of memories of growing up with Mc Donald's.

This is a fabulous display of McDonald history and San Bernardino history. The curator, Jack was very friendly and quite knowledgeable. Fabulous collections of McDonald memorabilia! All made possible by donation. I highly recommend seeing this icon and hope for its continued existence and success.

Was really surprised by the quality of this private, free museum just full of donated Mcdonald's memorabilia. The manager was friendly and just full of interesting facts about Mcdonald's and the area. Had a lot of patience with us. Suggested stopping by.

This place was great. So much history and the more you look the more you remember. It brought us so much joy remembering our childhood and the toys we got in the happy meals. There is so much to see and it's well maintained. The guy at the front was very welcoming and you could tell he took much pride in the museum.

Small museum filled with treasures of McDonald's past. An old timer stopped by to share the rich history of San Bernardino and McDonald's. Cool to stop by if you're in the area. Not sure I would've travelled 50 miles away to check this out.

Good place to take kids doesn't take long to go through but fun and really necessary with how all pervasive McD had become in the world this is where it all started

We’d have loved to go to a REAL McDonalds museum, but this wasn’t it. A nice collection of Mickey D’s memorabilia from Happy Meals to food packaging to photos to uniforms, including some international items.

Small gift shop if you need a shirt. Free to enter, donations are solicited. Not in the best part of town, but parking lot is gated.

If you like McDonalds of old, the museum is worth a visit. The docent told lots of stories and appeared to know his Golden Arches history. McDonalds promos and ephemera from around the world is on display, as are photos of the original McDonalds from the late 1940s and '50s.

You must stop here to get the history of McDonald's original site where it all started. The original building is gone but in it's place is the museum and artifacts of it's history. The Original sign still stands tho and it is a great photo op. Museum is free and FULL of stuff. A great place to relive the old days of fast food at McDonald's.

Pretty much what you expect ... all the McDonald paraphernalia you can imagine. It was fun to reminisce Happy Meal toys from the 80's/90's and just how things in general have changed.

This is the Original McDonald's Site and Museum. In every countries, there will be a McDonald's.

This is the first original and anything about McDonald's.

They had brought a lot of the items for the Original McDonald's Site and Museum.

Kids still like Mc Donald.

A must see!

This is a great little museum. I was thrilled to see all of the older menus, toys, etc. Brought back a lot of memories.

I had a very small understanding of the history of McDonalds and learned a lot from my visit. After visiting be sure to watch the movie "The Founder" for more of the story of McDonald's. Did I mention that this is FREE?

Shows the history of McDonalds and they have a lot of the original toys and other equipment from history and also from all the different countries. There staff there are helpful and greet you as you walk in and show you around. It's also free but we left a good tip to support the museum. Definitely worth a visit in my opinion

A very interesting museum to visit if you’re a McDonald’s enthusiast. There are so much stuff about the brand and a huge collection of Happy Meals gifts from all over the world.

It is the 1st snack bar of Mc Donalds and the curiosity to know the place is why we decided to travel there on the route of "Route 66". In fact it is a deviation in the route and the place is in the middle of the city, in a place where there are houses and commerce, it is interesting to realize this kind of thing. The museum itself really lacks maintenance, but considering that nothing is paid, it is also difficult to require super maintenance. Still the place is for those who like a Mc Donalds and yes has a lot of history, only it is not very organized, you have to have a little patience to go reading the information and fix yourself on what interests you most. We went because we understood that it is a curious and iconic place of the route but does not add anything if you are not a fan or if the site does not sharpen your curiosity just because it is the 1st snack.

Maybe it was the traffic on main drag getting here, maybe it's that the place is in middle of desolation, maybe the fact that there's nothing historic about the building itself (the 'site' but not the building). Most of what's inside is kitsch in glass cases. Plastic toys for which there's presumably there's a collector market somewhere. Mass produced plastic trinkets don't have an inherent value no matter what decal you slap on them. That's the grouch side. On the other hand, there are a few historical artifacts, and maybe you ave just looknig for a smile - you remember the glasses your mother allowed you to collect for 99 cents or whatever it was? Well, then this will fill the bill. For a real, functional early McDonalds drive thru head to Downey, south of LA (60 road miles away). Good photo ops there; and they serve fries!

this were it all began this first place out one before fontanna steel
was built the history is rich skates cars and coke cola fries shakes and cheeseburgers and bbq iwould love to seethem do the 1940 all over once more this history

What a fascinating tour! All things McDonald's and beyond, it was a real trat to explore this museum. There is SOO much to see here! Staff was knowledgeable and friendly.

Kinda cool place to see if you are driving on Route 66. Yes it's not in the greatest of areas, but if you go on the weekend the area is pretty deserted. Neat mural on the wall, cool "land yacht" in the back of the parking lot. Nice to see some of the old McDonald's trademark characters.

If you grew up enjoying McDonald's you will love seeing the original McDonald's location, which is now adorable Museum. The museum is full of memorabilia from the time McDonald's open to close to the present.

They have everything you will remember as a kid. From plush toys, 2 glassware and Happy Meals oh, it is all there for you to see it enjoy. It does not take a long time to go through the museum and if you are anywhere near Route 66 it is just a fun stop. Have fun.

It's nice to see once, especially if you are older and all the toys bring back memories and toddlers love it but don't expect teenagers to get anything out of it and don't travel out of your way to see it.

We left from Disney California (Anhem) direction Barstow CA to start part of Route 66 to the city of Williams where we stayed overnight.
The First Original McDonald's Museum had arrived because I passed there it was early.
Even so we were able to take some pictures from the outside.
Stay in a simple neighborhood, if you make a small deviation from the road.
It's worth passing the focal

This place was really cool and interesting. The best part was that is was free. So many memorabilia. Well worth the visit.

This is not a big glitzy corporate showcase venue this is a typical piece of pure Americana. A dedicated and passionate curator who knows his stuff will talk for hours on Golden Arches. Great external information and memorabilia but stuffed to the roof inside with rare and curious stuff. If you love Macdonalds or simple kitch then you have to see this.

Well I had read about and seen this place online. WOW what a collection. Every where you look there is more and more and more, and that's before entering. The out side of the building can that a while to take in. If you have any interest in not just McDonald's but American fast food history then this is the place for you. Take your time no one is pushing you through. Best of all it's completely free

My disabled son loves McDonald's to visited here for his sake - it is located in a dingy part of town but well worth visit. Probably spend approx hour there - interesting history and tells a different side of the McDonald's saga.

I'm not sure it's necessary to come from LA or elsewhere to see this museum. But as soon as you are in SB, it's obvious to visit it.
It's very interesting historically and the person at the welcome desk was very kind to help us

Cool place to kill some time while in the area. Impressive collection of happy meal toys, pictures, etc. I wouldn't recommend making a special trip to visit it but def worth a stop if you're in the area!

Since we saw the movie we had to go check out his place. A lot of interest in the museum do to the movie release. Interestingly the curator had not seen the movie yet but indicated attendance has spiked. The "guided tour" consisted of him sitting behind the counter and telling interesting stories since he has been there since 2008. Free admission and the museum takes only about 30 minutes but I talked with him at least an hour. Good to see if you are in the area but driving a considerable amount of time to get there is questionable. Of course you can always go down the street a few blocks and get a McDonald's hamburger afterward

On our travels we visited this museum, whilst it wasn't exactly what we expected it was wonderful to look at all the memorabilia.

It was so lovely to see the first ever McDonald's site, old sign and memorabilia over the years! I also found the different memorabilia around the world so fascinating.

Mickey D's is part of Americana (whether you like them or not :) so it was fun to wander through. Everyone recognized something they had / have and there were many historical pieces that were new to us. Lots of background on the original, first sale, Ray Kroc ect. This short visit added alot to the Wigwam Motel / Rt 66 part of our long road trip.

Everybody in my generation loves the original McDonalds site! We used to cruise down E Street every Saturday night so it's a part of our history!

Was a nice collection and took us back many years we are hoping to add to this collection from items my grandmother collected. Thank you!

Jack was a wealth of knowledge. It is free entry. The history of the McDonald’s Brothers and their early days is interesting. Many photos of original staff are on display. Relaxed atmosphere.

This was a very interesting stop. The surrounding neighborhood has really gone down hill, but there's a lot of fun stuff to look at inside and out. I didn't spend more than 30 minutes here so I wouldn't qualify this as a 'destination'. However, if you are in the San Bernadino area it's definitely worth spending a few minutes. The curator was very friendly and was interested to know where all visitors were from and was there to answer any questions anyone had. A fun trip down memory lane. I had so much of the stuff that I saw in this museum!

I hadn't seen the movie "The Founder" about the history of McDonald's, but this is the original spot where two brothers started selling burgers before the rights were bought by a businessman from Illinois. The museum is cozy but full of happy meal toys from the 80s and 90s, the staff is friendly and admission is free.

It was curiously interesting, outside only. But the inside was mostly cases of plastic toys I presume were in Happy Meals. I guess McDonalds Corporation isn’t interested or involved in this historical site

This museum is off the beaten path but well-worth a visit. This stop should be included in any Route 66 trip. Interesting and FREE.

Such an American story. A traveling salesman finds a clever food stand in San Bernadino. Figures the concept can work in other places, he travels to. He turns entrepreneur and raises capital through franchising a standard menu and service. His impact on our lifestyle is immeasurable.

We recently went to the site of the First McDonalds in San Bernardino.
Half of the building at 1398 E St. houses an amazing collection of memorabilia.
The other half is headquarters of Juan Pollo, a tasty local chicken franchise.
If you go, do it on a weekend when FREE TOURS are conducted from 10am-5pm.
The guide was friendly and was proud of San Bernardino and it's history.
Ouitside, there are many amusing cars, characters and a beautiful mural depicting many famous people that came from there. Like Gene Hackman, Derek Parra, Edith Head, Phillip Michael Thomas and even Wyatt Earp! As a San Bernardino resident, I'm glad someone is telling the good side of this city. Some cool souveniers too. (T-Shirts for only $10!) Next to this "unofficial" McDonalds Museum is a wonderful Military Museum. Both are FREE!

It was unique to see all the old things in McDonald history. I wish Ronald McDonald and the gang was back promoting McDonalds like back in the day. History is cool....

This is a museum at the site of the first McDonalds and is packed with history and Happy Meal toys by the thousands! Staff is knowledgeable and will spend time answering your questions. But...there is no restaurant here so be warned to eat before going - or just go to the local McDonalds drive-thru!

If you're going to be in San Bernardino, you may as well stop in here to have a look-see. They even have some of the old equipment on display.

If your in the area you can’t miss this. We could have spent hours here with so much to see. Great memories of our childhood. AND ITS FREE

Lots of stuff inside, most won't worth to see. But being at that very location were all star is a nice visit.
They could do a better job with the history .

This little piece of Americana history is an absolute must see if you’re in the San Bernardino area! There is so much history and nostalgia packed into one building it makes your head spin! The staff is uber cool and are truly passionate about what they have and what they do. Make sure to check out your country’s section - it’s great for a walk down memory lane. And if you get the chance, watch The Founder before visiting!

This is the place where it all started. Richard and Maurice McDonald built their first hamburger stand in this location. Inside the museum you won’t find a happy meal but you will find McDonalds memorabilia from around the world. It was cool to browse through all the items. Worth about an hour of your time and it’s FREE.

A historic place. Dropped by on my way to the citrus state park from LA. You will see a variety of McDonald's goods all over the world. Pretty Cool.

This remarkable, ramshackle place staffed by enthusiasts and lovers of all-things Golden Arches is a must-visit attraction, whether you're doing Route 66 or not. Find Rory and let him guide you through the myriad pieces of McDonald's memorabilia. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the Company's history and key figures is outstanding, and even if you don't like the burgers you'll love the enthusiasm and insights. Situated on the site of the original McDonald's Brother's restaurant, it's a shame an ongoing feud prevents McDonald's Corporation's billions from recognising and transforming this landmark property into something truly fitting and remarkable.

Lots of nostalgia in this location of all things McDonald’s. It you need to break up a long drive this was a fun way to kill 30 minutes. The host was full of very interesting facts as well.

My trip along Route 66 was about enjoying the many interesting & iconic places along the "Mother Road". From from a historical aspect it was very cool to see the rise of this globally known restaurant. It was fun to look at all the assorted items for promotions, toys and apparel that has been McDonald's all these years. It's well worth a detour if you are in the area.

A good stop. The museum tells "real" story of McDonalds. Lot of memoribilia, free admission. Real fastfood history. Drive west of the HW15, turn north to Baseline and south Highland ave, The museum is at 14th and E st.

The wife and I really enjoyed this Museum. It brought back a lot of childhood memories. The curator was very knowledgeable impatient and had a lot of good stories. Overall I was surprised at how many visitors from other countries weather. If you're in the area this is a must stop. And it's free

They do not serve food. It's a museum and a memorabilia store. You don't need a whole lots of time, but it's worth the stop. Cute and a piece of history.

Ok so I'm not a massive McD's fan but we were here with a minute to kill so took a look.

It's actually pretty run down and just has a bunch of old McD's happy meal toys inside with a couple of posters.

Not sure what I was actually expecting but this wasn't it!

It is so kichy it is fun.. An amazing amount of McDonalds stuff from around the world and from different eras. I would say it is truely a complete collection.

It is free so if you are in the area, don't miss it

I truly recommend to visit this little museum if you are in San Bernardino. It is not a serious place, although you can of course find some historical documents about McDonald's history (unfortunately a bit lost in so many other things). But it evokes nice memories and let you feel like a kid for a while. We really enjoyed our time there. Also staff is very friendly and talkative. Entrance is free.

We visited while in the area over night. It looks good from the outside but a bit sad inside. It's interesting to learn about the history of McDonalds & recognised some of the items in the museum from my childhood.

Found easy parking and walked around the McDonald's. Very interesting to see and will return after Virus problems.

One side is a mural wall, with front having history signs to include street signs. No longer owed by McDonald's but by Juan Polo. Lots of history here.

Worth a stop to see and remember

So glad hubby and I stopped! WOW! So many memories throughout this piece of fast food history! Family owned and run this is a fantastic place to stop and just take in all the history. We will be back!

We were in town to stay at the Wigwam Motel and see a 66ers baseball game as a stop on a road trip and were looking for something to do to kill time before checking into the hotel. Stumbled across this museum in the listing for San Bernardino and figured "why not?" Not run by the McDonalds people but the owner of a local chicken chain whose offices are housed in the building. Contains a lot of history about McDonalds which started in that spot (not the original building). Contains articles, pictures, and toys from over the years. Nice trip down memory lane.

Person at the front desk was friendly and willing share information. Free.

This was good for a quick visit. There is a lot of McD's stuff inside; some of it is interesting, some, not so much. It wasn't organized very well, but there was still some neat stuff to see. As a former McD's employee, some of the history was more meaningful to me. I'm not sure I'd recommend going a long distance out of your way (unless you have some positive connection to the golden arches, but if you do have such a connection, I think it should be almost obligatory to go) but if you're in the area it's worth a few minutes of your time.

We were looking for something to do to get the kids out of the house. On the way to lunch we stopped here. It is worth it if you are in the area. If you have any old Happy Meal toys - donate them. The man who greeted us was very genuine and knowledgeable in the history. Great little museum.

Full of old Mac stuff, and told the story of how it all started. Also had some things about the old route 66. Well worth a visit. Only stayed an hour.

Collection of MacD material from previous years of the franchise at the original site of No 1, but not owned by MacD!. We did not know the story of the franchise till visiting here, but are not surprised it is being made into a film. Take some of your MacD toys and they will add to the collection with your photo and acknowledgement.

Very interesting. ,very nice people in charge. Very helpful.

A lot of history, well worth the drive.

A must see.

Originally saw it on the discovery channel couple years ago so we put it on our bucket list of places to visit while traveling !
Located on Route #66 an icon of a business from one store revolving to what is McDonalds today ! Pretty amazing that the McDonald brothers developed the concept and then Ray Croc turned it into the franchise it is Today !

This is a great site for history buffs and toy collectors. It has a lot of history and unique items. Just about any happy meal toy ever made is in this museum. It also has other collectible stuff from route 66 and from Juan Pollo.

The layout and arrangements are very amateur, like groups of private collections versus a tourist museum. That made it difficult to filter the types of things you want to look at as the shelves and walls were very crowded.

Site is cool but all you see inside is a huge collection of happy meal toys. I was expecting to see more of the original restaurant. No admission free but donations are encouraged. Whole self-guided tour took 10 minutes. If you have 10-15 minutes to kill while driving by then stop, otherwise don’t make it a destination.

The historic site of the original McDonalds restaurant
museum,located in San Bernardino,California,makes for an amazing visit to learn about McDonalds history and the two famous brothers,Dick and Mac McDonald,that started it all back in 1948 along with Ray Kroc years!The site is owned by the founder of Juan Pollo Rotisserie Chicken,Albert Okura,who was a great fan of the McDonalds original site.Loads of interesting pictures,memoribilia,collecion items,original packaging,foutain machines and so much more!
The building features a great wall mural painted all around .
The staff their is so knowledgable about intersting facts and stories about McDonalds history! This a great stop on your "Route 66" trip,plenty of free parking and best of all Its absolutely free to visit this great landmark!
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Visit, workers/artists were very friendly and knowledgable. Was great to see some of the older pieces and toys. A must see if in the area.

So after I watched the movie The Founder, I wanted to visit the original McDonald’s. First I thought it would be working/serving McDonald’s but soon I found out it’s a museum. Nevertheless I still wanted to visit. Upon arrival I was excited and saw old toys and murals outside and the board telling how many burgers it sold back then (old billboard) and a sign telling about historical McDonald’s place. It is also on the Route 66 (historical Route 66).

So the museum is not owned my McDonald’s. It’s was bought my Juan Pollo restaurants owner Albert Akura who decided to turn this into McDonald’s museum and have his own museum inside it.

It’s still good to visit but not what I expected

The Original McDonald's Site and Museum is a very intereresting, unexpected place. It is extremely full of McDonald's history, memorabilia, information and old photos. If the "value" of a museum is teaching you information you did not know before, then the Original McDonald's Site and Museum was spectacular. The challenge is the museum is in a run down part of a run down city, owned by someone with no direct connection to McDonalds but felt the original site should be celebrated. Do no expect fancy, well lit displays. Do expect a huge amount of McDonald's history, the Ray Kroc back story, great old McDonald's displays, fiberglass characters, and menus from around the world. In many ways the Museum is like the rest of old Route 66 (the museum is on "city 66, a local route 66 bypass into San Bernardino), a hidden gem but long past it's prime.

The owner of the Museum, who also owns both the Juan Pollo chicken chain and the route 66 town of Amboy (yes, owns the whole town!) happened to be there when we visited and talked to us a while. Very interesting man with lots of fast food history which really added to the trip.

Be sure to walk outside, there are two awesome murals on each side of the building as well as a collection of Juan Pollo promotional vehicles (very hard to describe, I am guessing parade floats?) and lots of McDonald character statues.

There was no charge, but I enjoyed the museum so much I had to buy some stuff. The selection of merchandise was not extensive but I did manage to buy enough stuff that I felt I contributed to the museum.

We showed up and met the two guys painting the mural on the outside of the building. It was amazing, and they were very knowledgeable and friendly. They gave us a tour of the outside and then introduced us to someone else for the inside tour.

We took about 30 minutes to look around this museum. It is the original McDonald's site but is no longer owned by McDonalds and they don't sell McDonalds food, although there is a McDonalds around the corner - not too far away, which we went to eat at afterwards. There were a lot of the old toys, and even an old display of REAL food that's been there for years. We took a few photo's outside too, which was quite interesting as well, good for photo ops, It's free to get in, and there is a restroom available. They have some items available for purchase as well as refrigerated drinks.

My husband and I visited the Museum as part of our Route 66 trip. We arrived late in the day at San Bernadino and didn't get to the museum until 20 mins before closing, however the staff at the museum (I really wish I'd gotten their names) were ever so welcoming and seemed really pleased to have visitors. We were shown around the museum and told about the history of McDonalds and shown the murals on the outside of the Museum and even managed to pick up a cool postcard and pin of the original McDonald's. Having eaten at McDonald's all around the world from Moscow to Bangkok, it was nice to learn the history.
The museum is in need of a little investment to attract more tourists, however we love that the history is being kept alive and by such lovely people. Worth a visit. Take the time to read the displays and you will no doubt learn things you never knew before. I really hope this little piece of history stays alive.

Discovered and found this place thanks to TripAdvisor. Wasn't disappointed. Astounding collection and well organized. Docent was terrific.

Whether you want to see examples of failed food items, early Happy Meals, or get the true and complete history of McDonald's, or like me all of the above it is well worth getting off the I-15 for a half an hour.

And it's free!

Not affiliated with McDonald’s, but a fantastic collection of Mickey D’s kitsch and memorabilia, including a section on international McD’s toys and giveaways from several different countries. The outside of the museum is great also.

We missed this museum when we were headed east doing Route 66. Since we were close by we decided to look for it. It was well worth the stop. The murals outside and various decorations kept us busy reviewing and looking for special portions. Whether your into Route 66, Rock & Roll, CA history, or San Bernardino fast food restaurants there is plenty to find. Once we got inside Danny Castro was full of information, he introduced us to Albert Okura the owner of Juan Pollo and explained the connections with their display of Amboy CA. Danny was full of information and we spent much longer there than planned but it was worth the extra time. McDonalds movie memorabilia on display as well. No charge for admission, just a box for donations.

The original McDonald’s was located at 1398 North “E” St (“E” St south of 14th).

Many locals remember it as "The Big M" because in the early 1960s the McDonald bothers were barred from using the name McDonald’s. You can learn why at the museum.

The original building has been torn down but thanks the remarkable vision of Albert Okura, the founder of Juan Pollo Restaurant’s, the colorful history of the first McDonald’s has been preserved in the Unofficial McDonald’s Museum.

Located on the original site, the murals on the outside of the Museum Building depict many San Bernardino’s citizens who made notable achievements.

Inside, the exhibits include toys and memorabilia from “Mickey D” restaurants around the world. Very interesting is a montage of photos that tracks the history of the early McDonalds. Next door is the Inland Empire Military Museum.

While not linked to the McDonald’s Corporation, the Unofficial McDonald’s Museum offers a warm and welcoming staff and docents. The museum promotes pride in and for the once thriving City of San Bernardino.

Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun 10am 5pm | Admission FREE | Taking photos is encouraged

In the 1960s, the original McDonalds was renamed The Big M, and was the turnaround point for teenagers who were cruising E Street.

Find out the story behind all the Big Macs you have downed in your lifetime... Just make sure you leave your copy of Fast Food Nation in the trunk!

Vc has to deviate from the road for about 10 minutes to find the place is without any attractive, dirty and without structure.
Nothing more than a room with MC Donald's toys....

If you're anywhere near the area, you have to stop in. They have memorabilia from every era and a ton of countries outside of the US. The curator was a wealth of knowledge! We loved the chance to relive memories from our childhood and share them with our children. If you get a chance, watch the movie "The Founder".

Visited while doing Route 66 and the curator was friendly. Not sure what we expected but we only spent 5-10 minutes in there. If you love happy meal toys it's for you. Thought probably foolishly it would have more original equipment etc

If you enjoy want to see memorabilia from McDonald's from its beginng or see food sold all over the world its a must stop. Best of all it was free to visit the museum

It's in quite a run down area but if you're a McDonalds fan it's worth a photo just say you've been there.

This is secret....lots of history here including the McFeud...very sad but at the same time...you will say Wow or OMG at least ten times. First of all it is free....second....you will see things that will make your reflect on commercials and flashback to characters also it makes you think hard about the happy meal as well as how the franchise business is complicated. This is the first store, the original corporate in Oak Brook does not share about this history which is the real history. Ray Kroc had a dispute with the McDonalds Brothers and actually built a cooperate store across the street to drive them out of business as well as take way the Golden Arches Trademark. The Gentlemen that works here also provides history of the town, famous people and the Juan Pollo Chicken. The outside of the building has some excellent murals. If you are within a one hour drive I would recommend stopping by if you care about history, business or the birth of McDonalds. They also have lots of items donated by people. Here's a secret...there is a small military museum that is next door that is also free!

If you have kids that grew up with Macca's, they'll love this place. It's interesting for adults still, but much of the displays focus on the toys that Macca's are famous for - still an interesting story though, and it's on R66 and free. Some of the original car-hop photos and messages were great. I found the story about the owner just as interesting - a surprise and a link to Amboy.

When it first started, as I started to finance it, (bags of four + burgers at 19 cents I never knew it would grow to what it is. I suggest a Version B for the upgraded crowd and want free burgers and fries for life for the idea. Bobb of Kona and now Captain Cook in Kona coffee lands...

Ties up the rest of the story of the movie "Founder". LOTS of the early history of the company, with stories, pictures, and items from the first days of the McDonalds brothers. Fascinating to walk thru and see how the company grew thru the years. The toys, Happy Meal boxes, past giveaway items, had us going "I remember that!" through the whole place. And the items from all the other countries are fascinating- Happy Meals from around the globe. Be sure to talk with the curator, Jack. A wealth of information. And it's free?!

Travelling along Route 66 in California and stopping at the roadside attractions, brought us to this little museum on the site of the first ever McDonalds. What a fun place, inside and out! Firstly it's absolutely FREE, with plenty available parking. Secondly it's not owned by the McDonalds corporation - it is owned and run by by the founder of Juan Pollo, Albert Okura, who incidentally bought over the iconic Roy's Motel in Amboy - another Route 66 attraction. The museum is full of donated memorabilia, some of which is organised into countries of the world. It's all good fun, with plenty photo opportunities. What is amazing is to think is that you are standing on the place where the multi million McDonalds brand first started its humble beginnings.

This was a cool place that’s well worth a visit if in the area. They have different stuff from all over the world that brings back memories. The guy who manages it is really nice and informative.

This is the only place I know of to get a fried apple pie any more. I love the nostalgic museum. It reminds me when I was a kid.

Got there out of curiosity after the movie 'The Founder'. In this place, a bit in the middle of nowhere in San Bernardino, you can find a large and simple collection of Mc Donald's stuff from all over the world. It's operated like a small museum and it's free. We ended up giving a donation and buying a t-shirt mostly out of respect for the volunteers.
Is it worthy... if you are in the area, may be yes.
There is no food there and surely not a McDonald's as you can feel they got some regret for not being the official ones. ... a bit like in the movie.

interesting to see the site if the original store but the displays are poor, more certificates than you can poke a Medium Fries at, 5 minutes will do it.

So cool to visit and learn a bit about the McDonald's history, so cool me my wife and kids enjoyed it

Anyone who has experienced McDonald's in their lives should visit this site and museum.

This place is great for nastalgia! I remember when this location WAS an active McD's and really enjoyed being able to visit it again with some nice memories.

If you're into McD's this is your place. Only takes 15 min to look through their collection and the staff was very informative on the origins of Mcd's. Worth your time if you're close.

An interesting visit - growing up with McDonald's, it was a fun place to see. It is very small but full of the toys that were always in the sacks and boxes of McDonald's foods, a lot of memorabilia about McDonald's, it's history from the McDonald brothers to Ray Kroc, pics and stories of famous people who worked at McDonald's (including Jay Leno), and much more. Only took about 25 minutes to go thru, but a neat place for remembrances.

My husband and I just loved the McDonald's museum in San Bernardino! This was the worlds first McDonald's and they have everything from the original menus, pictures of the McDonald brothers, to happy meal boxes, toys, etc. The pictures of the regional buildings were excellent! The Terrazzo floor was interesting as well. We would highly recommend this free museum on your way through San Bernardino. It should be on everyone's bucket list doing the route 66 tour.

The McDonald's corporation does not fund this project. The owner of Juan Pollo Resturants operates this unofficial museum. There have been many battles in order to reach this point and not loose the whole thing. Many thanks to Juan Pollo for all his efforts to keep the history real. The pace is not large, but it represents the past very well. Thanks to the owner of Juan Pollo, he also makes good chicken.

small museum of every toy that McDonald's offered or so it seems. History of the "first" real McDonald's as in the brothers and NOT what Ray Koch brought to the world. parking is free and admission is by donation. a very small gift-shop as in the display case. a "once-in-a-lifetime" thing. just off US66 but it is OFF US66 so expect a few turns to get there.

Really enjoyed my time at museum. Very nice collection of old memorabilia. Comfortable, friendly atmosphere inside. Nice items to see outside also including a big M, large old Mcdonalds Sign, old tables and kids play areas. Spent about 45 minutes and had a good time interacting with the tour guide also. The surrounding area is what it is, not very nice but the location is not too far from the freeway. No cost to enter, there are T shirts for sale for $10. My companion enjoyed himself too.

A museum devoted to a leading cause of obesity was not to be missed! Surprisingly well-organized, with tons of artifacts from over the years
Worth going to if only so you can say you've been here.

well, this is a pretty cool site. if you have ever been to the golden arches then you should probably stop by! the first time i went the staff wasn't very friendly or helpful and it was pretty ran down, so we went to the war history area instead. the second time was much better! had someone to do the tour and learned a lot about it! it was still pretty ran down, but had been cleaned up a lot since my first visit! definitely worth a stop!

Always wanted to see the first McDonalds and I can say it was a pleasant visit. The owner is a very nice man. Also has a small Juan Pollo museum. And the building across is a Military museum that I also recommend. Very nice staff and very knowledgeable. We did visit in July so it was hot in the buildings but not too bad. Bring a bottle of water maybe to stay cool.

if you are fan to learn about the history of McDonald's and you never knew that this location where the two brothers started their business and how sadly ended,

It was good to see Ronald McDonald again and all the history around one of the most enduring memories of a baby boomer.

Great place to visit and take a walk down memory lane. Walking the isles of happy
Meal toys and listing to the history from the lovely workers there was great. Could even spot some old toys from New Zealand!! Only need half an hour but a good stop

After watching “The Founder” movie, we were curious to find out more about the history of the McDonald’s. Therefore, while on Route 66, we made a stop, at the site, of the original McDonald’s restaurant.
We were pleasantly surprised by the little, free museum and by the diverse collection of McDonald’s memorabilia. We ended up spending about an hour, on the site, looking through everything and taking a lot of pictures. The gentleman who worked there, made us feel really welcomed and walked us through everything.
It’s been a lot of fun and we were so happy to have visited the place where the McDonald’s story began!

Rory who works there has a great passion and wealth of knowledge of the vast amounts of memorabilia there.The whole place is very interesting and my autistic son who normally whizzes round took time to stop and look at things. Theres stuff inside and out and they are always looking for more.

This is really a treasure for those of us who remember when our first McDonalds came to the neighborhood. The recent movie has rekindled an interest in this place and the volunteer told us that they now get a steady stream of folks visiting. As you walk through this museum, wave upon wave of memories are sure to surface; whether it's the happy meal toys, the old plastic pieces from the play areas, or just the myriad of pictures & items too numerous to mention. The outside is also famous claiming the largest mural, and that is another walk down memory lane. If you are anywhere near San Bernardino, do yourself a favor and plan on spending a little time at this museum.

This was the site of the first restaurant, but only a portion of the first signage remains (not golden arches...those came later). It's filled with interesting memorabilia. It's not an official museum of the corporation and is unaffiliated with McDonald's. The third restaurant, and the oldest still in service, does have arches and is located in Downing, CA.

American iconic history well displayed. This is a free museum (donations accepted.) It has displays of McDonald's memorabilia well arranged, as well as larger displays around the building. It is a collection of McDonald's stuff, and is not a working restaurant. Clean restrooms.
If you are into quaint, unusual, or historic sites, this fits all three.

Took my 3 sons here when visiting the San Bernadino area. There was tons of interesting things, I even saw some old happy meal toys that I remember from my younger days. The kids loved seeing all the McDonalds stuff but they were disappointed they couldn't get a happy meal there.
The displays are a bit all over the place, but considering that it's free I can let that slide. The store is next to the old Route 66 and they also had some neat Route 66 memorabilia in the back as well.

The surrounding area seems a bit shonky but that said we didn't encounter any issues.

For years we were told the creator of McDonald's was Ray Kroc but why was it named McDonald's and not Kroc's Milkshakes? Well, this place answers many questions about the history of the fast food chain. It also provides a glimpse into McD's past products. From the collectible Garfield glasses to all the characters designed to make our kids obese. Neat place to visit if you're in the area. The neighborhood is decent and in the same condition as many other Route 66 attractions: beginning stages of Urban Decay. I bet you'll be craving a Big Mac after your visit.

We had seen the movie "The Founder" so thought it would be interesting to stop at the site of the original McDonald's. So many cool artifacts as well as many things borrowed from the museum to produce the movie. The majority of items are happy meal toys from various years and countries which is an interesting glimpse into pop culture. The museum is FREE which is very generous since it is privately run. Recommend for a quick stop if you are a McDonald's fan!

Albert Okura is a really nice gentleman & the owner. You'll find some old memories here. Who didn't like the Hamburglar or Mayor McCheese? They're all here. Some of the old playground stuff also. And a fabulous mural outside.

Small but packed full of memorabilia, pictures, newspaper articles, and fun. Took my mom, cousin, and daughter and we spent an hour saying "I remember that!" and "We had one of those." We took lots of pictures and bought a few postcards. An hour is plenty of time to see it all.

We were traveling along Route 66 and wanted to check out this attraction. We are so glad we did. Rory, the artist who has been working on the amazing murals, led us around the museum. He was full of interesting information. This museum is a true labor of love and a great place to see in San Bernardino. The tour took about an hour and was well worth our time.

Interesting to see...lots of memorabilia, but nothing spectacular. Too bad they don't serve burgers there...that would add a lot to it! We walked all through the museum and didn't see a single person there...weren't welcomed or anything. Oh well. Was still interesting to see where the very first McDonalds was located.

I’m glad we’re near this spot. You can’t go wrong in this iconic spot. We will be back and will bring more guests here from time to time.

This museum was an wonderful and unexpected experience. The gentleman at the desk was informative and made us feel welcome. My kids are young adults and grew.up with McDonald's and the happy meal toys. We were able to go back in time and remember all the fun we had at McDonald's. With free admission and no help from.mcdo alds foundations, they do have a donation box, which I felt was worth giving too as it gave us memories that would be
Have otherwise been forgotten. Well worth the stop.

I like the idea that preservation of the story is in full gear here. Visit this place, it's not crowded. I have been there a few times and I always see something new. Check out our YouTube video #R7D5ARwZ-sA

This is really a museum. While it's not the official McDonald's museum, it is on the location of the very first restaurant. And they have tons of pictures and nostalgia in there, mostly donated over the years to the cause. It's nothing super fancy, but certainly a blast from the past...memories.

Worth a stop as your going through San Bernadino on Route 66. Just a short detour. Seems to be a private museum now, but has a huge collection of Mcdonalds toys and memorabilia. Nice photo op. No food.

If you saw the movie The Founder, with Michael Keaton, about McDonald's, this is a must see. Lots of nice artifacts and timeline mural that depicts the history of McDonald's.

We were at a car show for Veterans day and the owner of Juan Pollo Chicken, who owns the museum, sponsored the car show on E st in front of the old McDonalds museum. It has lots of pictures, memorabilia, t-shirts for sale, and much more.

This is in a run down part of town but worth the effort to find it...quirky and very interesting. The story of the McDonalds chain is fascinating and Jack Marcus is very knowledgeable.

I remember some of the stuff they have, it was great seeing the past. We did the oh look at this and wow look at this and I never saw this before.

We visited in late December. My son-in-law read about this place in a travel guide. The museum is free and is basically a collection of lots of McDonald's memorabilia. It was fun to gaze at the history of McDonald's. The guide who gave us a bit of history was very thorough but he did use some salty language, which was unnecessary. Worth a stop --- it doesn't take long to view -- 45 minutes tops.

Spent 90 minutes viewing all the McDonald's Memorabilia. Learning the story of an American icon. Even the outside of the building was interesting. A piece of local history not be be missed.

It had all the items of McDonald from the beginning and it continues with new ones as well.

There were all kinds on the walls, with items that was used in the past.

There was a a table to eat. However, they don't cook here. It is only a museum.

They have a grill,lots of pictures items from kids.

They had a Wurlizer for music.

Small items for kids.

Remember the Happy Meal?

Coca Cola!

I could write a lot here. It is all in this Original McDonald's Site Museum and McDonald's Site and Museum.

Worthwhile to see. It is completely free!

We dropped by the McDonald's Museum to see the murals that are being painted on the outside walls, and we were treated to a very informative, very enthusiastic explanation of the murals, and a tour of the museum inside. The south side mural has portraits of famous people from san Bernardino. The north side mural shows Route 66 from Santa Monica to Needles. My favorite item on that mural was a picture of Snoopy's cousin, Spike, who lives in Needles.

The museum has a lot of memorabilia from the original McDonald's, and from McDonald's around the world.

This is a must see for all San Bernardino residents and Route 66 enthusiasts alike.
Thanks Phil and Rory for the great tour!

Please understand that this is NOT a McDonalds, but a Historic McDonalds Museum. They have a bunch of McDonalds memorabilia from through the chain's history (and before!). It is a very cool stop for any road trip that brings you out this way... but I wouldn't necessarily make the trip just for this if you're far away. You'll spend less than a half hour here unless you're a HUGE fan and read every little thing.

The highlights for me were for sure seeing the old trees and the cheeseburger jail jungle gym that used to be in McDonalds playgrounds in the 80's (and before!). I'll add picture of these. That was for sure the highlight.

While they sell keychains and a few other small things, there really isn't even a gift shop. They do sell water and some soda. I was between 3 and 4 stars on this but seeing the big items again made me choose a 4. Very glad we did it... but probably wouldn't go back unless I heard that they got some other big items. It sounded like they didn't have plans on expanding.

If you're into weird California roadside stuff... this is a must!

We called in for a look around and was surprised to find that it's a free museum. The memorabilia here of McDonalds throughout all of the years is fab, I noticed a few things I remember getting back in the 80's as a child and also told them that if I come across anything in my loft, I will be happy to send this in to them as a donations.

McDonalds is such an icon throughout the world so this was a lovely experience to walk around here and spend an hour.

Fun place where you will learn lots of fascinating and wierd stuff about the origins of McDonalds and other fast food restaurants.

Totally free and full of old McDonald's signs, toys, menus, & more. This place is great for a 15 minute trip down nostalgia lane. We saw tons of Happy Meal toys we had as kids- Animaniacs, Furbys, Fry Kids, Super Mario 3, Muppet Babies, ET, etc. Outside they have a Hamburgler statue and his burger jail which you can climb into. You can also stand on a square piece of floor where the original McDonald's once stood. Ray Kroc wasn't very kind to this location since he wanted all the McD $$$ for himself! Enjoyed learning a little bit about the history while also freaking out about the McDonald's carousel complete with burger and fry kid seats.

We liked this museum for a quick visit to view all the MCDonald's memorabilia- Our expectations were a little higher coming from places like Coke museum however was glad we stopped. The customer service in museum was outstanding and really showed there pride in museum. I did not realize from viewing before on web site not owned my McDonald's corporation however we enjoyed the stop

I expected the original structure. It's gone, and what's present is just filled with old McDonald's items. Not really a museum.

All kinds of McDonald's items from the very beginning of it's history. I especially liked the photos of past workers. It's in the first McDonald's Ray Kroc built. Cute and fits right in if you're "doing" Route 66.

This was a fun trip down memory lane! It's a collection of many bits and pieces of McDonald's memorabilia. Many Happy Meal toy collections from over the years, but also archival photos and paperwork (menus, application forms, etc) from back in the day. There are also a few of their glasses collections - our family had some when I was a kid, but I haven't seen them in ages! Outside are some of the older playground toys (rocking French Fries, a Hamburgler jungle gym, a Grimace Statue, etc) There's even a Golden Arches, and an older marquee sign when it used to say "millions served". The gentleman at the front door was very friendly and offered up much history about the collection and the area. And, it's free, so if you need to be economical it's a fun stop.

Are you a history buff? Well than, you'll definitely would enjoy visiting the original McDonald's site and Museum in San Bernardino. It's truly filled with lots of McDonald's original findings. There is plenty of parking for everyone as well. Come and visit it, you won't regret it that's for sure..

I came there with my family and it was just amazing how the painter gave us a tour and told us so much stuff we didn't know about McDonalds. He also showed us the paintings around the building and it was interesting to see. I record going there, the place is nice, so as people.

This is the mostly (~75%) a collection of McDonald's toys - like what they put in Happy Meal boxes. But, they also have a wide variety of artifacts that tie the building to the original McDonald's. This museum is also only a couple of blocks away from the Historic Route 66 so it has a lot of Route 66 feel to it as well.

The original building was demolished long ago, but this museum has tons of memorabilia. It was great to reminisce of all the toys you remeber from childhood. It's free qich is a plus, donations accepted. When you leave and go back home you can send him a toy from your area and they will put it in a display for others to see. Great stop kids loved it

We made a quick stop and I was surprised how much my wife and adult daughter enjoyed all the McDonalds toys. A fun stop on 66

We visited whilst doing Route 66 and the curator was friendly. Not sure what we expected but we only spent 5-10 minutes in there. If you love happy meal toys it's for you. Thought probably foolishly it would have more original equipment etc

McD's has been a part of the baby boomer generation. Glad to see some parts of the history are preserved. This was a fun stop for my mom and sisters. We were glad we made the stop. The owner and his partner/friend both spend time talking to us about the history and sharing their knowledge with us. If you want any info on McD's history or Route 66, contact them. We didn't have enough time to browse the Route 66 museum and the military museum next door is only open on weekends. Definitely a must see!

Interesting but Looking old and outdated.. Needs some money spent on the place if you want tourists to visit......

If you look back in history there are pinnacle points that shape the way things are done. The McDonald brothers may not have realized what their “speedy system” of producing hamburgers and French fries would eventually turn into but no one can dispute the fact they were the turning point that drove the fast food industry to what it is today. Standing on the site you’ll notice it’s simple, it’s not glamorized, however. This is where it started. If you grew up when McDonald’s locations started popping up across America I think this location will bring back memories. The curator of the museum is full of information and very willing to share it with you. We spent about an hour inside. The timeline is displayed on the walls and throughout display cases. There is no charge for entry but they do take donations. If you are visiting it’s worth a stop to check it out.

Could be great place, and it does have a one-page history of McD, but basically it's just a couple rooms with a jumble of memorabilia, hard to know the significance of anything. Not officially connected to McDonald family or business. Disappointing you can't buy anything but root beer. Somebody should fix this place up! Could be great tourist attraction; a couple from China stopped by while I was there, but were just confused by it.

Original McDonald's Site and Museum

We arrived early in San Bernardino, and found this place by accident, it Free and interesting, and a real look back in time. even if your not a fan.

All my reviews are written from the heart, and how each place made me feel, I never write a negative review, due to the fact that if I have a problem or complaint, I open my mouth while I am there, let’s be fair and give people a chance to rectify problems, stop all this negativity.

Lee Wood at Pendle Pictures

We are McDonald's fan just like so many in the world. We saw this movie "Founder" and get to know about history of McDonald's and we visited this place. Few points to mention here - Its an unofficial museum and its open 7 days a week and its free to enter and free to park and it does not offer anything to eat. One get to see a number of photos of the founders of McDonald's and how they grow. There are so many Happy meals toys donated by people. Do talk with the curator, Jack and get all the information you needed. Also outside the museum there are display of big Bunny, Cock, Cars etc that fascinates and entertain little kids. Our toddler daughter enjoy a lot sitting in cars horse. Its so great to see those happy meals toys which one has been collecting them in their childhood. It good to know about these great people who started this wonderful yummy food which people of all ages love.

What a great museum. And two wonderful caretakers, Jim and Jack. Two guys who have seen it all from the beginning and are happy to share the history with you. Many glass cases of artifacts and nik-naks, the toys they gave away with the kids meals, outfits, pictures, ads, news articles, etc. From Ronald McDonald to the Hamburglar, they're all there to take pictures with. Enjoy.

Definitely a quick must-do in the city of San Bernardino. The nostalgia of happy meal toys brought a smile to my face and the vast collection will impress you. Best of all, it's FREE!

So, this not only allegedly the site of the first McDees, (there is some dispute, however with a site in Illinois (or something)) but also the corporate offices of Juan Pollo Chicken. Please be prepared to walk in to a building that is serving as a display for one man's McDonald's collection and cooperate offices. The sign is cool and the collection is varied and expansive but the feel of this site is more creepy roadside attraction than the usual tourist trap. If you like strange old men, weird collections and awkward run ins with cooperate fast food chicken employees than this is the place for you. Also, be prepared to see one of the worst neighborhoods of San Bernardino, CA. I never felt unsafe but I would not make this journey after dark as E Street is not a particularly nice area of Cali.

Not a great neighborhood. The building is run down and dusty. But, it's a quick stop and some really neat history to be seen. I'm glad we went. As long as you're not expecting fancy you'll be glad you stopped in for a bit.

This interesting sight hidden in San Bernardino is a fun place to visit to see the original McDonald's!

We were doing Route 66 and this is a quirky stop. The place is really neat and retro. Lots of memorabilia that was all donated. The museum has free admission. The gentleman who worked there was very knowledgeable about the museum as well. They had nice clean restrooms.

OK The food is the same as any other McDonald's, but at least you can say you visited the original location! It is worth the trip. There is a lot of memorabilia that is fun to look over.

Curious place. We were lucky to get a enthusiastic guide in his second day on the job. He told us very nice stories. His favorite item? Fresh fries from 1999! My favorite? A black and white photo of the original Ronald - way way creepier!! See original menus and souvenirs. Nice mural outside telling the story of San Bernardino. No burger, but there is a close In-n-out.

Jack was great, he greeted each visitor warmly and was very informative about the displays. There are toys and items from McDonald's around the world. The building is located on the site of the original McDonald brothers restaurant in San Bernardino.

Wish I had more time. There was a lot to see. Lots of toys. A walk down memory lane. Free admission, which is incredible. Must be a labor of love to maintain.

Basically a huge room of thousands of items of McD's memorabilia. Its all there. This is an unofficial museum which i think actually predates first company McDonalds. Worth a stop if in San Bernardino.

One fast food company's tribute to a competitor adds extra flair to this small museum. Admission is free and the staff are very friendly.

Go ahead! Relive your childhood memories.

This is located in a sketchy part of town but we enjoyed our time in this "museum" mainly due to the knowledge and passion shared with us by the man painting the mural on the outside walls. He shared many stories about McDonald's and San Bernandino. My nephews liked seeing the old Happy Meal boxes and prizes and my sister and I were surprised to see so many McDonalds things from our younger days that we had forgotten about.
It is a shame that the McDonald's corporation didn't invest in salvaging its own history. Without the passion of the "mural man", where could folks enjoy this happy nostalgia?
We "tipped" $20 US to the mural man which seemed a great deal for a group of 4 to go to a museum. His time (just under an hour) and obvious passion were infectious.
Worth a trip if you're in the area!

This was an unplanned stop while driving on Rte 66. The outside is eye catching, but the inside is a combination museum and office for the Juan Pollo chicken restaurants in the area. Kinda strange, but still worth a stop; albeit a quick one.

First class museum to visit and was helpful staff with plenty of information to give you a blast from the past. Nice to see the old cooking appliances and menus from the 1940's up to today.
Good place to stop on Route 66.

was very cool, like a trip down memory lane! They have every Happy Meal toy. Place is kinda small so probably not good for the little ones.

Excellent museum catering to McDonald's fans.Free and it includes a guided tour! The museum has a Route 66 section as well. Outside you'll find several attractions including Scooby Do's and the gang's Mystery Machine. The actual van is there!!! Wow!!!! My 11 year old boy enjoyed it! Totally recommend this place! FYI: There is a free military/veteran's museum next door as well.

This is a fun place to kill some time and to see some remnants of your American childhood. The dude working inside was really nice, too. If you’re stuck in San Berdoo, check it!

It's worth the price of admission, being free, and seeing Happy Meal toys and odds and ends from early McD's was interesting for two minutes, but I wouldn't go much out of my way to visit this place.

Not really into eating McDonald's (Maccas as we called it here) however there's no food here, but it's a fascinating relic.
To see all the old memorabilia, toys, gifts etc. was quite an eye-opener.
Reading some of the historical articles was very interesting.
Items like the old vans and cars, juke boxes and Coke vending machines were just amazing.
It's a collector's paradise.
Loved the VW Kharman Ghia!

If you have ever visited a McDonalds then this is a taste of nostalgia! Some of the kid's toys brought back good memories. The museum was very informative but as has been said, it is not in the best neighbourhood, quite a run down area. We spent about an hour there and had a good laugh at the crazy mirror! The history is written by every case and some of it is quite amazing, we never knew how it started and all credit to the current owner for rescuing so much stuff. Well worth a visit if you are in the area or passing San Bernadino, but do not recommend making the trip for the museum alone.

Before our visit we didn't have much knowledge about the history of Mcdonalds and we came out inspired. We came home and watched 'The Founder' which I also fully recommend.

Thank you for keeping this historic site alive and sharing Mcdonald's interesting story!

We didn't get to do all of Route 66 like we planned to because of the pandemic, however, we did a little bit of it on our way to Utah outdoor parks. I am so glad we chose to stop at this super fun spot in San Bernardino! This was seriously like taking a step back in to my childhood.

This site is now a museum, it used to be a McDonald's and it is on the site where the very first McDonald's restaurant was. The museum is made up of collections that people have donated of McDonald's memorabilia. Holy cow! I had no idea HOW much McDonald's stuff was out there. I loved seeing the old plates and cups we used to collect and all of the old playground equipment we used to play on at our indoor play place in Ohio (what a gift during the cold winters).

Such wonderful place of nostalgia...this is definitely worth a stop if you are nearby. Social distancing and masking was practiced (we were the only ones in the museum so it wasn't an issue at all).

This is a good place to see only if you are in the Riverside/San Bernardino area. They have a lot of souvenirs from old Happy Meals and other McDonalds memories. It takes about 30 minutes to see. It's not worth driving all the way out from downtown LA.

We went to the Mcdonalds museum on our trip down rt 66 to the Grand Canyon. It was a great kick off to our day after staying at the Wigwam. So many childhood memories and so much history! We were greeted back Jack who is very informed on the history. Fyi the owner of Juan Pollo bought this location and made it the museum it is today. He is a big on restoration of rt 66 and even bought Amboy. He also has a rt 66 museum located next to a Juan Pollo restaurant but it's very small. The history of the building and Mcdonalds is wonderful to see. You can also donate Mcdonalds toys and have your pic in the museum as my twin boys dids. They also have amazing things around the building including wall art and the Scooby-Doos mystery machine van. Next to the museum is also an amazing military museum owned by Juan Pollo owner too.

"This is the best of all the museum I have visited" said my 7 year-old grandson. He and his 5 yr old sister have been to many museums. We spent about one and a half hour there, including the time they took riding many of retired McDonald rides. They tried to find a "happy meal" toy that they have seen before and identified their favorite "happy meal" toys. This museum is not own by McDonald. It is not fancy, no food to serve, just a collection of old McDonald "Happy Meal" toys, retired rides from McDonald restaurants, and various memorabilia. The store keeper was very good with kids. He told them the history of the museum and how they too can contribute to the growth of the museum. Admission was free.

We were looking for something to do to fill in a morning in San Bernardino. We expected to spend a short time there but ended up being there for 3 hours! It is a fantastic collection of history, Memorabilia and they have sections dedicated to different parts of the world. An excellent few hours spent browsing the thousands of items in the collection.

Stopped here for about an hour while passing through San Bernardino. We like to stop in McDonald's when traveling just to see the different restaurants and menus, so seeing this museum on the sight of the first McDonald's was a lot of fun. They have a really great collection of McDonald's items from the past and from around the world. It's a little chaotic but has enough organization that you can find different types of items. Fun way to spend an hour or two if you're in the area.

It was fun to see the original McDonalds and all the artifacts of the advertising, toys, pictures and promotions that McDonald's has used through the years in many countries. I wish they had some help in how to present the McDonald's story through these artifacts, rather than just present you with dozens of cases lined with stuff.

At least in my experience someone who is continually negative and has an axe to grind is a very dull individual to be around, or better yet to have to hear about. The McDonald's original site and Museum had a lot of interesting memorabilia and pictures. However, from the moment we walked in the door we were told how the McDonald's corporation doesn't like this Museum. Further we were told how badly the McDonald's brothers were treated and how miserably they spent their lives because of Ray Kroc's success. I understand that currently it is very trendy for Hollywood to disparage big business or even people that make the American dream. In fact I had always heard Mr Croc was a scoundrel who stole the McDonald Brothers concept. I found out through the docent today at the museum that Mr Croc paid the McDonald's Brothers through a legal agreement 2.7 million dollars for their small operation in San Bernardino, and the ability to franchise what they were doing. No one broke their arm to get them to sign this agreement. Neither, did Mr Croc steal it from them. 2.7 million dollars in the late fifties or early sixties was a great deal of money and made them very wealthy men in their own right. Hindsight is always 20/20. We all make mistakes that we look back in retrospect and see that the outcome could have been much better. However, these two men were not wronged. They were paid for their concept by a visionary who took their small town idea and made it a worldwide undertaking. Nothing is more unflattering than someone who lives their life living with what might have been. I understand that one of the McDonald's Brothers was worse than the other for going around perpetually feeling abused. Unfortunately the McDonald's Museum was hard to enjoy, as it primarily centered around the McDonald Brothers unhappiness with what the outcome of their agreement was. It's too bad that everything had to focus on the negative instead of all of the delightful and interesting photographs and memorabilia from McDonald's. As far as the McDonald's museum is concerned, I would pass on it. Unless you're a big fan of the "Founder" which took character assassination and disparaging to an Olympic class level, you will be disappointed. I know nothing about Mr Croc's personal life, and couldn't comment on whether or not as an individual he was a nice man. Further, it is probably not relative anyway. If you want to be unhappy and dwell on the negative watch the evening news and pass on visiting this place!

Its interesting to see the old toys, site and pictures but i feel like i'm witnessing the brainwashing of children.

It was fun to see all the old toys and packaging that we remember from our childhood. Lots of history. I met the artist who painted the murals on the building.

A most interesting museum on several levels:
1. It is on the site of the first McDonald's although it isn't the original building (long gone).
2. It is a private museum, not McDonald's sponsored.
3. It is free.
4. It relates the troublesome early days of McDonald's that McDonald's would likely pass over.
5. It has things submitted by McDonald's stores worldwide.

Worth a visit!

Good place to go to watch 'America's Pastime". Single A level, so players are young and eager. They play hard. Standard concessions available, with usually short lines.

Enjoyed looking at the memorabilia. The displays were well organized over the decades. There were also many news articles framed and other items to show the progression of the chain.

We stopped here on our old Route 66 drive from Chicago to Santa Monica. It was interesting to see the first McDonalds (although it was before the McDonald's we think of today) and all the memorabilia. The murals outside are pretty cool.

Site of the first McDonalds, however not owned or operated by McDonalds. A collection of photos and items from Happy Meals, etc. Of mild interest for 15 minutes or so in my opinion.

We had lunch at the oldest McDonald's in the world discovering it by chance because close to our hotel is having noticed a decidedly retro architecture (which maintains the original look of 1953). If you happen to be in the area in my opinion it is to be seen, because anyway it is a symbol of the States

Had a blast from the past! Brought back so many memories. Great trip lits yo look at great history. Friendly clean.

Worth a look, free and good cold soda's. A bit scruffy, but persevere and you're bound to uncover some treasured memories

We found ourselves in San Bernardino and a few hours to spend our time as we wished. Looked up sights and came across this place. Great collection of memorabilia, definitely brought back happy memories of going to Mcdonalds with my folks when I was a kid.

We took Uber there and back. Not the safest part of town. Go during the day and avoid panhandlers asking you for a moment of your time.

Friendly and knowledgeable representative, who provided us with a salient history.

Only One First in any chain, company ect.

But, to be the First Mc Donalds is a Legend,
we were shocked, when we heard it was going to be
removed years ago, What a Shame that would have been.

There is another very close, but we chose to eat at the
Original, just to say we had eaten there.

Worth the drive to Downey CA, to eat there.

Ritchie H.

Enjoyed viewing the history of Mcdonalds. From the old french fries bag to the many kids meals toys. A must see.

It's situated in a bad part of town not a nice place. Outside it looks like and old building . I would not make a special trip for this place . Pass on it!

We visited the museum today and had a great time. Rory did an amazing job of showing us around and the mural is beautiful. Definitely worth the trip to San Bernardino. Not only did we learn about McDonalds history but I learned so much more about the history of San Bernardino.

I am more a fan and Wendy's hamburgers (as far as the products offered) being from Dublin, Ohio but we could not resist visiting the original McDonald's location and museum when we were in San Bernardino California. I'm old enough to remember life before McDonald's in Ohio, and even I was amazed at the amount of memorabilia and kitschy things assembled in this small space. The story of McDonald's Hamburger restaurants is the epitome of the American dream and making a success of a business plan! And if you are in San Bernardino, you will need to make a visit to the McDonald's Restaurant Museum. And it is free!!!

Last week I took my triplet grandsons on a boys day out where we went to the movies, the park, out to eat and finally The McDonald's Museum. They spent over an hour looking through 60 plus year old memorabilia.What do you think they liked the best at the McDonald's Museum? It was the old motorized rides. That's all they talked about when they got home. I guess I know
how to become a super hero on our next trip, take them back to the McDonald's Museum... and It's so close to home.

While researching things to do in the area, this came up. Everyone know McDonalds so we figured why not. We were immediately greeted at the door and given a little history before we stated wandering. The kids were amazed at all of the happy meal toys. I loved seeing famous celebs who worked there at some point. Interesting place to visit and super friendly staff! SprinkleTheCity.Com

I've wanted to find the original location for McDonalds ever since we moved to California five years ago. Finally, we took a drive to San Bernadino and found it. It looked different than I thought it would (the original building is gone). There is a museum on the grounds now that is owned by the Juan Pollo Chicken company. Part of the building is Juan Pollo's headquarters, with the majority of the building dedicated as the "unofficial" McDonalds museum.

We were met by a man named Rory who works at the museum, and you can tell he truly loves his job. He guided us through the exhibits and told us stories about the McDonald brothers and the "McFued" that occurred between them and Ray Croc after they sold out to Croc. Very informative information that most of us would never know,

If you find yourself in the Southern California area, plan on making your way to San Bernadino and visit this museum. It's where the largest restaurant chain in the world got it's start!

Great collection of history of McDonalds and McDonalds items. It was interesting to learn that even though this is the original site of McDonalds that it's not recognized by McDonalds as the original. The museum was free and brought back a lot of old memories of McDonalds from my childhood.

If you grew up with McDonald's then this museum is worth stopping by. The original building is long gone, but a sign from the period is still on the sight.

The neighborhood is not the best with bars in the windows of most of the businesses in the area. The museum itself appears somewhat run down, pretty small, and there are no video displays. However, if you grew up eating at McDonald's the artifacts on display will bring back a lot of memories. It took my less then 30 minutes to complete my visit and there was no fee to visit the museum.

I would not go out of my way to visit, but if you are in the area it is worth stopping by.

My kids (12yr and 9yr) visit this place on our road trip to Palm Springs. It took us about 15-20 minutes to see it. My 12 year old enjoyed seeing the vintage Mcdonald items and it brought back memories for myself. There was no guide on tour which I would of liked. It is a small place but it would of been cool to hear the history from someone. There is no fee to enter but donations are accepted. If you have the time, I would recommend to stop

I was just passing through San Bernardino and went on Tripadvisor to see what was around the area since I had to kill some time. I sw the Original McDonald's site and Museum on the list. It was cute to go in and see some of the old pictures of McDonalds, see the original site and it brought back a lot of memories.

The man behind the counter was super helpful and informative. If you're in the area, it is a nice place to stop by and check out. It is not huge so it takes about 20 minutes to nicely look around at everything.

If you bring an old toy from McDonald's in to them, they will take your picture with the toy and put it in the museum if it's something they don't already have I believe.

The employee who greeted is clearly passionate about the place. He told us about the early history of the McDonald brothers and their relationship with Croc who eventually bought the business. There are hundreds of items both large and small, it's amazing how much they produced over the years. It's the sort of place you can spend 20 minutes or over an hour.

This is hardly a museum; more like a storage unit of McDonalds memorabilia. Although I started to look through, I hardly care about photo's of past employees and the schlock on display. It is free, but it is also pretty much a waste of time.

I've been to San Bernardino dozens of times over the past 5 years but I've never stopped by the McDonald's Museum until now! It is a small building, but it's worth a visit if you are nearby. Sadly there is no actual McDonald's selling food there. But they have tons of memorabilia and such to look at and take you on a nostalgia trip. There are cool statues in the parking lot to take photos with, and entrance is free so why not stop by right? But we were in and out within half an hour. It's not much unless you really want to stand there and read every little tidbit or look at every little trinket.

Such a nice time machine to blast u to the past. Pictures go document history. Seeing all the toys from my childhood was so nice. Clean space. Restroom available. Free admission. No food on premises. Ample parking. Truly a gem and worth checking out if you are in the area.

We came to the birthplace of the McDonald's food chain and were not disappointed. They have many fine artifacts and a nicely chronicled history how how this food giant got its beginnings.

I guess I should have done a little more reading or research before stopping by. The Key Word is "site". It's where the Mc Donald Brothers built their first restaurant. That building was torn down in the 70's. The current building is just that, a building. They do have a lot of smalls, but nothing much with a wow. It's free.

Stopped at this old Mcdonalds on the way to the parks and the food and service was terrific. Clean bathrooms and easy parking. Great service. Definitely recommend.

It was great to be standing at the spot of the first ever McDonalds, and interesting to have a look through the McDonalds items on display.

We only called in because it was on Route 66 and we were passing by. It's such a pity that McDonalds doesn't get involved as this could be a great museum.

Worth a look if your in the area.

They could use some seriously work on this, I am glad it didn't cost anything. They have so many cool things in this building, but it was sort of a mess.