World's largest Dr Pepper bottle unveiled. 'It's a bold tribute'
America is well known for its quirky roadside attractions, and now, one of the country’s oldest and most iconic soda brands has joined the party.
The official Dr Pepper Museum, located in Waco, Texas – roughly 100 miles south of Dallas – unveiled the world’s largest Dr Pepper bottle on May 9, in celebration of the museum’s 35th anniversary.
“As the Original Home of Dr Pepper, we’re excited to add a new icon to the Waco skyline,” Chris Dyer, CEO and president of the Dr Pepper Museum, said in a statement. “This bottle isn’t just big, it’s a bold tribute to the spirit of invention that began right here and continues to inspire visitors from around the world.”
History in a Dr Pepper bottle
The installation, which doesn’t actually contain the fizzy beverage, is constructed from fiberglass and stands at 23 feet tall.
Each side captures two distinct eras in Dr Pepper’s 140-year history, including the branding’s “modern style” popularized in the 1960s, and the “Vim, Vigor, Vitality” logo that adorned bottles from the mid-1800s through the turn of the century.
“Together, these designs tell the story of 140 years of refreshment and reflect the enduring connection between Waco and America’s oldest major soft drink, first served in 1885,” the museum wrote when announcing the new attraction's unveiling.
From Waco to the world
The world’s largest Dr Pepper bottle was made possible by a $1 million donation from the Hillman Family Foundation on behalf of the elder care organization, Cornerstone Caregiving.
“As a lifelong Waco native of over forty years, I have always been extremely proud of Waco as the birthplace of Dr Pepper and the fantastic job the Dr Pepper Museum does in telling its story,” said Michael Hillman, Cornerstone’s co-founder and a member of the Hillman Family Foundation.
Speaking to local TV station KWTX, Autumn Outlaw, director of development and marketing at the Dr Pepper Museum, celebrated the brand’s contribution to America’s vast roadside attractions.
“People are always looking for fun things to do, and roadside attractions are one of those things, so we wanted to provide that – and do it in an iconic way here in downtown Waco,” Outlaw said.