History & Soda at The Soda Museum in St. Charles, Missouri | History Traveler Episode 350

[@jasonparsons7485]

Royal Crown cola was popular here in the south it might not have been as popular other places of the country but most know it now as RC cola

[@tiffanyclaycomb6494]

RC cola also was extremely instrumental in the civil rights movement

[@derekrupert2013]

RC is awesome. Grew up in Pa and our local distributor had an RC machine. Summer fave of mine

[@astridgalactic9336]

I remember RC being the budget cola product, just above the various store brands. Personally, I didn't like it as much. Too watery for me... but like all kids, I drank it anyway.

[@marktatum2592]

I have a 2 litre bottle of RC in my fridge right now, just chillin'. "Me and my RC"

[@ericspratt3164]

We used to put the old 16 oz. glass RC bottles in the snow while we made homemade pizza. It would get a little slushy and perfect. Illinois

[@stnkyp8]

RC and a Moon Pie was very popular combo here in the south…

[@barclayericson6662]

And great title of a NRBQ song 😅

[@jdeaton5093]

Aaah....yes an RC Cola and a Moon Pie was the "go to" when I was a kid growing up in NC, but don't forget the "four corner nabs"!

[@arky5610]

yep i live here in Arkansas, in the Ozarks , i was raise on R.C and moon pies, we had something like a old fasion general store with hardwood floors and they sold R.C AND moon pies, i stop drinking R.C cola when i got older, i now drink coke zero, and sweet tea but still eat moon pies

[@Navyrifleshooter]

When I was a kid in the 70s, growning up in rural WV, Royal Crown Cola was about all my parents bought. That cooler brought back some memories. Thanks

[@19202557]

6oz RC and pack of peanuts in the bottle.

[@DavidDragonhammer]

Crown Cola is sold still at Walmart in the midwest,I have a 12 pack am looking at right now.

[@hoosiercrypto9955]

My uncle worked for RC. Dad worked for 7up and I worked summers merchandising.. 👍

[@RedHeadedTsunami]

I thought RC Cola was a Southern thing.

[@billbertke7778]

Still drink it to this day! $1.29 2 liters here in Northern Kentucky. Still the best cola!

[@tedlawrence4189]

Back in the '60s RC ran a promotion on their 16 oz. bottles. Under the cork under the cap might have 10, to 50c written. These were redeemable for a discount on more RC. This was fun for this teen.

[@johnbowers7115]

I live in St Charles this museum is a real jewel for our downtown area

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

100%

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

100%

[@TiredMomma]

And the arcade is fun

[@phantom193]

very cool content JD. I love your war stuff but i wouldnt mind you doing other history topics like this occasionally! very educational. Since the history channel sucks now I think there's a need for this type of content!

[@RiseFromTheDead]

I had no clue about the green vs clear glass during WWll. That is fascinating!

[@TribeTaz]

Grape Nehi was Radar, from MASH, favorite drink. My dad worked for the company when i was growing up

[@gunnarsalmonson962]

I know this is a little off subject, but thinking about cool museums in Missouri - i would live to see a video of you visiting the Arabia Steamboat Museum in downtown Kansas City. It's a fascinating look at the thousands of pieces of cargo that were recovered from a fully loaded Missouri River steamboat that sank in 1856 while taking trade goods up river to the frontier. The ship was found in 1988 and excavated in a cornfield a half a mile from the present course of the Missouri river. It's cargo gives a great insight into 1850s life.

[@zekesgirl100]

The cargo was described as an 1856 Wal Mart

[@Familylawgroup]

As a fellow St. Charles resident, transplanted from St. Louis, and a lifelong resident of Metro St, Charles, I really appreciate your channel. I work in the new courthouse and I have walked right past the museum and I never noticed the museum. I am excited to try to find it and visit this week. Thanks for letting us know about it,

[@animalanimal7939]

How can you be transplanted and life long, simultaneously

[@pmccoy8924]

My great great grandad was a soldier in the 26th PA Emergency Militia, the first union regiment to engage with Confederates, Jubal's men, at Gettysburg. He was an attorney in Williamsport, PA and tried to start his own soda business. Remnants of the company still exist on eBay and such but it never took off. Was called, Kola Mint.

[@MrBradleyDavid]

When I was in the service, we went on maneuvers in Egypt. There was a loan building just off crossroad in the middle of nowhere that sold refreshments. It had to be 115 120° with no shade. My commander bought me a Canada dry cola.by far that was the best cola I have ever had, made with real sugar no less. That was about 1993.

[@KCPrible98]

Oh, Bummer. We live 12 miles west. We would have looked up had We known. We have been enjoying your Weldon Springs episode. My wife used to work just east of it a few miles. God Bless You today and all the Vets who made it possible to live in a Free country .

[@toharms3081]

Glad to see some Vernon’s memorabilia there. In Michigan and other areas of the Midwest love Vernon’s. It was started right after the civil war and is one of a kind taste.

[@RedHeadedTsunami]

The refrigerated CocaCola vending machine I first ran into was one where you'd pay and open a long, thin door on one side of the front. It was at a gas station inside the office. Mama had given me change to get my own. But, my fingers weren't strong enough to get the bottle fully out and I didn't dare let it go. With my fingers freezing, I was stuck. The Gas Station man finally noticed what was going on and just pulled that bottle right out, took the lid off and handed it to me. Cold CocaCola in a glass bottle just tasted better.

[@JasonNonn]

It's fun to find cool things like this less than an hour from my home. Planning the trip now.

[@billireland2029]

If no one has mentioned this already, I believe Nehi was one of the props used in the series MASH....specifically grape Nehi for Radar when he wanted a drink.

[@elizabethtaylor3779]

Really enjoyed this! Growing up in metro Atlanta, we drank Cokes nonstop; Coke products were ubiquitous, and to this day, when someone asks if you want a coke, it's a term that covers any carbonated beverage, not just Coca Cola per se. Royal Crown Cola (aka RC Cola) is a Columbus, Ga based company and parent to such sub brands as Nehi, Chero cola and Diet Rite. Here in the South, moon pies are requisite with an RC cola. Thanks for this fun, interesting and informative video; more like it, please

[@wisecracker1814]

My hometown! My parents moved there in '53 when I was 1 yr old, I graduated SCHS in '70, came back after being overseas in the Army in '73 & lived there 'til '83. Loved it back then, more Mayberry-ish than it is now. Another interesting history fact about St. Charles... Lewis & Clark started & ended their famous journey west on the St Charles riverfront. There's also a floating museum for them on the riverfront. Hope you caught that while in town, History Traveler..!

[@beezertwelvewashingbeard2519]

i grew up not to far from there in a small town called Breese, IL . that town is famous 2 things. Wally's hamburgers, and SKI soda. If you can try to visit the Excel bottling plant. It's a great drink.

[@joefera8947]

Royal Crown Cola is better known as RC Cola and was distributed by 7-Up. I think it was recently discontinued. I may be wrong on that. Also, it’s funny seeing Dr. Pepper say they have no caffeine, which they do have now. Lol

[@wtfbuddy1]

Amazing collection, thanks for sharing JD. Cheers

[@sherriianiro747]

I was the onlly one growing up that loved the lemon - lime of Sprite, which to me was better than Fresca which had more of a grapefruit taste. Oh those were the days! 😊

[@cherylpalian3254]

Love this type of history. Would love to see more of these museums as you travel.

[@Gitarzan66]

I was 18 The summer of 85 when Max 1st appeared. It was such a trip at the time. We had never seen any graphics that looked like that before. It even went on to become a sitcom for a couple years.

[@Countryfresh223]

Royal crown soda is everywhere here in northern indiana. Yoy can find it at any store or gas station. We call it RC. Tastes pretty good. Ill take it any day over pepsi.

[@tazloon]

In Chicago you'd always get a free liter of RC with your pizza order, some of the older establishments still do it.....😊

[@500793]

Dang I wish I would’ve known you were gonna be in town longer. I love your videos and I have been hoping to see you around the area. I’m just on the other side of the river a few miles. I hope you’re enjoying the history rich area! Hopefully you get to explore the old capital building of Missouri on Main Street St. Charles.

[@PJ-bv9tc]

JD!!! You’ve never heard of Royal Crown Cola? RC cola? You’re killing me Smalls!! 🙃 I have a small collection of 40-50 Coke items. Thanks for making me want more! Really appreciate your videos and this one was a ton of fun. Hope to meet you in Gettysburg sometime. Thanks brother!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

My stupid butt didn’t know that RC stood for Royal Cola. 😅

[@dnldcow]

Well this makes me feel really old, I remember sodas at 10 cents , the Rexall Drug with the soda counter when I was young in the early sixties, thank you for bring this to us JD.

[@Steven_VE9SY]

Wow I saw stuff there from my child hood, Is I can ever travel that way I will definitely be checking that out. Very interesting episode. Great work JD !

[@aujay]

16:53 - Royal Crown or RC Cola was pretty popular in Australia in the late 80s and into the 90s and although i didn't drink it as much as Coke it was better than Pepsi IMO. Funnily, when i came to the US in 1993 i couldn't understand why so many plp seemed to prefer Pepsi over Coke. I used to travel from NHRA Drag Racing events with an American team member who would stop at every Antiques store in every state we drove through and was avid Cola drink collector, he would buy Coke and Pepsi coolers (and many other items) and stock up our car with so many collectables!

[@oldtanker4860]

You'd probably enjoy the Dr Pepper museum in Waco TX too. I used a couple of this vintage dispensers for bottles when I was a kid. I'm 70 now.

[@Necrosophy17]

Thanks for shedding light on this new spot! Locals are very proud of Main Street, StC.

[@jonorr7984]

That was very interesting! I enjoyed RC cola growing up. Good stuff!

[@mikemercer5808]

As much as I love war history, this video just touched my heart. Seeing all of this soda memorabilia just brought back so many memories of when I was a kid in the 70's. Thank you so much for the video, as always it was just incredible!

[@johnstup4479]

That museum is truly an amazing place JD. I can remember the Coke vending machines with the dark wood paneling on them when I was young. Remembered Coke in the 8-pack glass bottles too. When I started working at a supermarket back in 1983, customers would return those 8-packs and get 10 cents a bottle for them. I would write up a slip and give it to the customer and they would take it to a cashier and get 80 cents back. Thanks for showing us this place JD!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad that you enjoyed it!

[@57Banjoman]

St Charles is a cool place-got to spend a weekend there years ago. One of my favorite memories is that of our Dad taking us to Putt Putt golf, and getting us a Coke when we were done-10 cents!

[@nathansimpson5721]

I live in the area and I'll literally be going here today with some friends. It's a great spot

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awesome! Be sure to tell them that you saw the video. 🙂

[@stantonsee2357]

I have heard of Royal Crown Cola all my life. The saying that I have heard most of my life is "RC cola and a Moon Pie". This saying came about when workers could get a RC cola and a Moon Pie for 5 cents which would serve as their lunch during the depression.

[@johnellis6959]

I remember there was a Max Headroom tv movie. I looked it up on IMDb and apparently there was also a tv series that was a pretty cool phenomenon of its time. Being a child of the 80’s was pretty awesome. 😏

[@Chris-lh7wj]

It’s interesting how much of a part of American history soda has played, especially my grandparents generation (WW2). My grandfather would say how he would go to the drug store and they had like a soda bar…not really sure how to picture it, especially in a drug store, but certainly very different than how we consume soda today.

[@dallasguy3306]

Our family owned a laundry and dry cleaners in Mineral Wells, Texas, 2/10 of a mile from Fort Wolters, the largest primary helicopter training center in the world. This was at the height of the Vietnam War. If you flew a helicopter in Vietnam, you trained at Fort Wolters. I still remember my grandfather's Coke machine in the laundry. One like it is shown in this video at 12:59, top row, in the middle. It was a nickel machine. Put in a nickel, turn the handle, and out popped a 6-ounce bottle of Coke. Just read up on it. Held 72 bottles. I don't know what happened to it. Someone probably sold it for a song. Just saw one going for $900. In all my years of antique shopping, incl a Coca Cola store, I never saw a nickel machine. Thanks for the memories of simpler times.

[@terryeustice5399]

JD I’m a Coca Cola collector. Love this. I have Coca Cola Train and a city. Under my Christmas tree. And ornaments on my tree. Like you just love it. Thank you for this buddy! 💯💕👊👍

[@TiredMomma]

I spotted an old Coca Cola cooler, sitting outside some old abandoned business, somewhere down route 185, going towards Sullivan, in Franklin county, Mo. It's been there for who knows how long but it don't look so bad.

[@michaelkennedy7352]

I've watched most of your work, but I think I enjoyed that one the most. Surprised you didn't know RC cola. Remember many of the items. Fun, fun, fun!

[@lorikrafft8197]

I share your love of old thing!!!! I like vintage antiques

[@tomjones2202]

I live in St Louis and I took my daughter to St. Charles last summer. I didn't even know this museum existed BUT,, I'm going now! HOWEVER ,, JD,, you missed something very historical in St. Charles or maybe you didn't. The Lewis and Clark Museum!!! St. Charles is a wonderful place and I look forward to going back in the next 2 weeks! Thanks for sharing and I DO hope you're heading to Springfield and the Battle of Wilsons Creek,, well worth the trip!

[@TiredMomma]

There's an arcade downstairs too.

[@tomjones2202]

Cool!

[@vw2112]

it opened late in 2023 it was a shoe store before that next to tonys on main street

[@robinsmith5442]

The soda cooler at our store had sliding panels on top and it would hold 2 of the wooden crates with cold water coming half way up.

[@phyllisdellinger7800]

There was nothing like a icey cold coke from one of the reach in coolers, like at a gas station etc. great memories

[@jimreilly917]

If your Coke was near bottom your arm was near numb by the time you pulled it out🥶😃😎

[@dodg1988]

I'll admit, I mostly check out your Civil War and WWII videos but this video is fantastic. A beautiful collection of Americana through the years. I'll add it to my list

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@Necrosophy17]

I checked this place out shortly after it opened. You pointed out a few things I had overlooked, though! Getting to talk to the owner is part of the joy, he is a reservoir of knowledge.

[@earlyriser8998]

Wow this brings back so many memories. These vending machines or coolers were everywhere. There were a few shops that still made a 'soda pop' by mixing syrup and carbonated water when I grew up in the 1960's. All gone now. BUT in the 1990's we found a shop in west Texas north of Amarillo that still served 'soda pop' with syrups and water. All soda Coca Cola and Dr Pepper and 7 Up. We stopped and hung out there for an hour. And bought a large drink to go. Great Taste in every drink. Does he have a fountain!

[@darkwater1967]

Nehi...I recall that Radar O'Reilly on MASH ordered a grape Nehi as his favorite drink.

[@sscinamon]

Very interesting. Royal Crown Cola stands for RC Cola .Still drink them now. A Nehi Grape Cola was one of my favorites. Lived in Texas and now Alabama

[@DRAGONSLAYER1220]

JD, here's a conversation you'll hear only here in Texas: " Ya wanna Coke?" "Yeah sure!" "What kind?" "Dr Pepper." But, oh to get my hands on an old Coke crate!

[@Archerfish1977]

Years ago there was a Coca-Cola bottling plant here in Elizabethtown, Ky and they had a huge museum of Coke memorabilia. Watching this video is rather nostalgic of all the neat items they had there.

[@GrandmaRose9000]

Thank you for showing us all the fine, smaller museums tucked away in smaller towns. So interesting. Love the Soda Museum and never knew it existed. Thank you so much.

[@shortyvols]

Royal Crown is RC, the old saying was “Race and a Moon Pie”….and Nehi had a saying “Nehi belly washer”

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

I visit the Stl area a lot and eat in St Charles. I’ll have to check this out. It’s a quaint town.

[@FoulOwl2112]

Nice to get a little break from the war related stuff.

[@jennyzoliver6718]

Growing up in Pennsylvania we always drank Royal Crown, RC cola Great video.

[@SoCal780]

What really struck me was that as a truck driver, I literally drive through St. Charles, Missouri every day on Highway 370. Had no idea that this place was there. So cool, so nostalgic, and so massive as far as his collection goes. I can’t believe that what you showed us was only 30%! He’s going to need a bigger building. Maybe he could negotiate with the Lemp Brewery people?😂 Another awesome video, thanks, JD.

[@pigoff123]

I was just in St. Charles MO on Friday.

[@Tom-em4ph]

I can understand why they got rid of bottles but as a kid I loved the bottle soda dispenser and loved taking the bottle cap off great 👍 memories

[@marypasco2213]

JD, I find I must write and THANK YOU for all your channels. I will never, physically, get to any of the places you have taken us to. The places you go to are even better than the 'Travelogs' of the '40's and '50's. IMHO. So thankful for all your hard work. Please don't stop. ❤

[@donnawoepke8861]

Nice, I live in St Charles so I will have to go there and visit. I wonder what year they opened. I am down there quite often.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Just opened not too long ago.

[@nanetterolph2972]

So many fascinating things! I to love old things over some new things! I love antiques!!!

[@eightballcuet]

Awesome. The no drip sleevess remind me of modern day cozies

[@lorikrafft8197]

I have a very fond memory of a toy Coca-Cola dispenser that was about the size of the personal coolers. It was so incredibly special to me. I wish so much. I still had it today we thought it was so special to put our cup underneath the dispenser and have Coke come out of this toy machine.

[@cyndiebill6631]

There was a personal cooler there that my family had and I grew up with in the 50s and 60s. I remember taking it to the beach and on camping trips. This was fun and brought great memories back of my childhood. I still today prefer Coke over any another soda product to this day.😊👍

[@danielrosenwinkel7905]

Surely you’ve heard of Nehi, JD! It was the beverage of choice for MASH 4077’s beloved company clerk Radar O’Riley.

[@jbellos1]

Fascinating museum. Incredible time-travel trip. Too bad they took the Coca out of the Cola long ago (replaced by caffeine), but Caff-Cola just doesn't have the same ring to it. Not to mention the HFCS used today for USA customers, instead of sugar.

[@bambijoiner7578]

I always enjoy watching your videos. I see you do your research very well. Thank you. 😀

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I appreciate that!

[@johncovington9471]

What?! Have you never heard of RC Cola and Moon Pies?! That is a big deal in the South. When I moved to Alabama from Indiana, I took a ton of grief about it. Now, I go to the soda shop in Bell Buckle, Tennessee just to have some and laugh.

[@johncovington9471]

If you go to Balmoral Castle, you'll see the swastikas used as garden edging. Its origin in history has several different views. But as one goes into the European Empire days, it was quite common.

[@ginamaria2579]

I love Saint Charles. I make it a point to go often. ☺️💕 Really great video.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yes! Thank you!

[@mrdubau2718]

I know a woman that's family owned a local Coca Cola bottling plant and she does or did have a Coca Cola urn. When I saw it she had it in a glass case. Was told her whole basement wasn't nothing but NOS Coke advertising, and signs still in the original boxes.

[@kathleendaugherty4218]

When I was young, in the 1950's and one of us kids were sick, mom would call the doctor. Before he made a house call, he would have her go to the soda fountain and get coke syrup. She was to give us that medicinally. I remember taking it, but I don't remember much more about it.

[@sheilatruax6172]

My mom used a lot of flattened 7-Up! Good times!

[@cherylschantz9893]

@@sheilatruax6172we used 7 up, too. It actually helped!

[@TribeTaz]

Was so cool seeing the RC stuff. That was always my favorite growing up in Ohio

[@Demon_Outlaw]

Don't forget 🍒 Cheerwine 🍒 hometown Salisbury . Nothing Carolina just had their festival. I have Coke-Cola wooden crate Chattanooga. Tn Sundrop , Double Cola , Pepsi outdoor temperature signs great video loved it .

[@sheilatruax6172]

I drank, and drink, Pepsi. I'd drink Royal Crown (RC) if I couldn't get Pepsi. Coke was, and is, the bottom of my list of colas. Root Beer was toward the top. Especially in a frosted mug!

[@wandagarrett942]

“I like the old stuff”…..me too😃!

[@mikeivey8471]

NEHI is a great old soda !! Flavors such as grape & orange !! Much better than "Fanta" imo. Loves them as a kid but don't see them much anymore ....

[@emilybazan1549]

You are an awesome guide/teacher. I enjoy everything you show on this channel. God be with you always. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@jenniferchurch4154]

It's my home! I love seeing this.

[@katiemyers4174]

GADS! This a unique museum and looks much better than the Coca-Cola World in ATL! Hard to imagine there's only 30% of the collection on display! Bonus points for accessibility with the riding chair to go up the stairs, but the aisles look narrow for wheelchair users. Thanks for sharing!

[@drinkmesilly]

My friend loved Coca-Cola so much. He was buried with a 1932 coke bottle. Cool video it reminded me of him. THANK YOU.

[@KCPrible98]

Hi, we just voted early today. Our friend running for our Missiri State Senate was at the polls. He invited us to attend an Election Party on Tuesday night at this Soda Museum. We will go and hope to enjoy it. We sent him this link to watch and share.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Nice!

[@jeffreylc]

As I sit here drinking my Coke about 25 minutes from St. Charles at home I’m thinking to myself “I’m in old St. Charles fairly regularly and never knew about this place!”

[@TiredMomma]

They have an arcade downstairs too.

[@pigoff123]

We hardly ever drank soda growing up. It is interesting though.

[@barbaramai7610]

Love this video, makes me want to go there! I no longer drink much soda, but Coca Cola was my very favorite as a kid. Well done, JD, and thanks for this one!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks so much!

[@KCBCollier]

Thanks for this! St Charles is day trip distance for me. Will make sure to go visit this summer!

[@connielynes4835]

All the old stuff is pretty neat love looking at all the old stuff I'm 62 and I seen a lot of stuff and some I haven't seen

[@morewithles]

Dang you were in my neighborhood! Wish I had seen ya just to say hey! Appreciate ya! ✌️🙏

[@joemichaels4231]

I live 10 minutes from St.Charles and I had no clue this place even existed! Visiting for sure!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@joemichaels4231 - cool place! Be sure to tell them where you heard of them.

[@joemichaels4231]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Will do! Plus I just subscribed to your channel!

[@joshgoodin4943]

You never heard of Royal Crown? That's RC Cola, better than Coke and Pepsi put together. But my favorite brand is Sioux City. A little hard to find, sometimes Cracker Barrel has it. They make a great root beer, sarsaparilla, cream, and birch

[@Wreckdiver59]

A good old Americana video is always welcome 👍 That was a very well presented museum. There were plenty of things I could relate to growing up. Max Headroom was around before he became the spokesman for new coke. I can remember the TV series and there was a movie and series in the UK before the US TV series.

[@rogerminter3599]

Thank you sir.

[@ButlerFam]

About 100 miles west of STL is a Churchill museum in Fulton, MO

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

This one? 🙂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHXapalvjtSWrposi=9tC9YoZh3FgnP7Xp

[@ButlerFam]

@TheHistoryUnderground why yes, that would be the one! Haha! I enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@digital-nature-uk]

A wonderful snapshot of history from a pop culture perspective 😃

[@giannideangelo7340]

haha I see what you did there

[@digital-nature-uk]

@@giannideangelo7340 I would like to say it was intentional!