View source for World of Coca-Cola

{{short description|History museum of the Coca-Cola Company}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name             = World of Coca-Cola
| native_name      =
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| image            = World of Coca Cola 2015-04-09.jpg
| image_size       = 300px
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| caption          = The exterior of the current World of Coca-Cola at [[Pemberton Place]]
| location         = [[Atlanta]], Georgia, U.S.
| address          = 121 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
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| owner            = [[The Coca-Cola Company]]
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| floor_count      = 2
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| website          = {{URL|http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/}}
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| building_type    = Visitor center, indoor attraction center
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| renovation_date  = May 24, 2007
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| logo             = World of Coca-Cola Logo.png
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| opening_date     = {{ubl|{{Start date|1990|08|03}}}}
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The '''World of Coca-Cola''' is a [[museum]] located in [[Atlanta]], Georgia, United States, showcasing the history of [[The Coca-Cola Company]]. The {{convert|20|acre|m2|adj=on}} complex opened to the public on May 24, 2007, relocating from and replacing the original exhibit, which was founded in 1990 in [[Underground Atlanta]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/our-story/|title=Our Story – World of Coca-Cola|newspaper=World of Coca-Cola|access-date=February 7, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208034202/https://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/our-story/|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are various similar World of Coca-Cola stores in locations such as [[Las Vegas]] and [[Disney Springs]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Coca-Cola Store │World of Coca-Cola|language=en-US|newspaper=World of Coca-Cola|url=http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/explore/explore-inside/explore-coca-cola-store/|access-date=February 7, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202044854/http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/explore/explore-inside/explore-coca-cola-store/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
===Original museum: 1990–2007===
The original World of Coca-Cola was located in downtown [[Atlanta, Georgia]], at 55 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, between the [[Georgia State Capitol]] and the [[Underground Atlanta]] shopping and entertainment district.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/08/the-world-of-coca-cola-museum-in-atlanta.html|title=The World of Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta|website=www.amusingplanet.com|access-date=February 7, 2017|archive-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208034616/http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/08/the-world-of-coca-cola-museum-in-atlanta.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The museum opened in 1990, and would remain open until 2007.<ref name=":0" /> The original World of Coca-Cola saw around nine million visitors during its years of operation, becoming Atlanta's most visited indoor attraction until it was surpassed by the [[Georgia Aquarium]] in 2009.<ref name=":0" />

The museum was inspired to serve as a continuation of Coca-Cola history dating back to 1886. During this time, Dr. [[John Stith Pemberton|John S. Pemberton]], a pharmacist from Atlanta, created a unique soft drink with a specific flavor syrup that was highly popular. [[Frank Mason Robinson|Frank M. Robinson]], his partner and bookkeeper, is responsible for the name of Coca-Cola as well as the well-known design of the script.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Harris|first=Neil|date=1995|title=The World of Coca-Cola|jstor=2081923|journal=The Journal of American History|volume=82|issue=1 |pages=154–158|doi=10.2307/2081923 }}</ref>

The museum was located in a three-story pavilion, and its entrance had a huge neon Coca-Cola sign (30 feet high and 26 feet wide). This sign was built by Metals Manufacturing in West Valley, Utah. The tour started on the top floor and worked downwards, featuring approximately 1,000 Coca-Cola artifacts presented in chronological order, interactive exhibits such as a replica 1930s soda fountain, video presentations of Coca-Cola advertising over the years, and a 10-minute film about Coke around the world.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.roadsidegeorgia.com/site/worldofcocacola.html|title=World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta, Georgia|website=www.roadsidegeorgia.com|access-date=February 7, 2017|archive-date=January 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112225541/http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/worldofcocacola.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The tour featured the 'Spectacular Fountain,' where visitors were allowed to sample various Coke products. At the 'Tastes of the States' area in the same room, guests were able to try 22 different soft drink brands, some available only regionally.<ref name=":1" />

The 'Tastes of the World' exhibit was located in the International Lounge. There was also a gift shop.

The [[Government of Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia state government]] acquired the former World of Coca-Cola building for $1.1 million after Coca-Cola vacated the facility in 2007; the state would later acquire the surrounding land in 2016 as part of a property exchange with the [[Government of Atlanta|Atlanta city government]].<ref name="GA Gov">{{cite news|last1=Salzer|first1=James|title=Georgia may get old World of Coke land, but unclear if museum a fit|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/georgia-may-get-old-world-coke-land-but-unclear-museum-fit/J42Rl41INgDXfX6xjJVomL/|access-date=October 24, 2017|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=August 16, 2016|archive-date=October 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024155039/http://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/georgia-may-get-old-world-coke-land-but-unclear-museum-fit/J42Rl41INgDXfX6xjJVomL/|url-status=live}}</ref> State legislators had made proposals to install a state history museum in the building, but no action had been taken due to the cost of refurbishing the old World of Coca-Cola building as well as the lack of funding to do so.<ref name="GA Gov"/> In June 2024, the former World of Coca-Cola building was demolished for parking for the State Capitol complex to accommodate construction of a new legislative office building as well as renovations to the State Capitol building, which are projected to be completed in time for the 2027 legislative session.<ref>{{cite news |title=The fizz is gone: Atlanta's former Coca-Cola museum demolished for parking lot |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/former-coca-cola-museum-demolished-parking-lot/85-23cbcda9-1829-4aaf-8f3a-e18acdfd6956 |access-date=June 16, 2024 |work=WXIA-TV |date=June 16, 2024}}</ref>

===Relocation and new facilities: 2007–present===
[[File:Museo Coca-Cola-Georgia-USA1090.JPG|thumbnail|upright|Coca-Cola around the world]]
The Atlanta museum was relocated to 121 Baker Street in Atlanta, just blocks away from where John Pemberton created the original Coca-Cola formula.<ref name=":0" /> The 92,000-square-foot building was constructed at a cost of $97 million and opened in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/arts/design/30muse.html|title=The New World of Coca-Cola – Atlanta – Museums – Review|last=Rothstein|first=Edward|date=July 30, 2007|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 8, 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318100258/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/arts/design/30muse.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It is located in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] (where the company's headquarters are located) at [[Pemberton Place]] (named in honor of [[John Pemberton]], the inventor of [[Coca-Cola]]). The {{convert|20|acre|m2|adj=on}} complex is located across Baker Street from [[Centennial Olympic Park]] and is also home to the [[Georgia Aquarium]] and the [[Center for Civil & Human Rights]]. It opened to the public on May 24, 2007, relocating from and replacing the original exhibit.<ref name=":0" />

The museum features exhibits about the [[Coca-Cola formula|secret formula of Coca-Cola]], a 3D movie where an intrepid scientist and his assistant set out to find the secret for themselves (featuring actors James Meehan and Jameelah Silva), and allows visitors to taste 60 different flavors from around the world.<ref name=":0" /> It also houses a fully functional bottling line that produced 8-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola for distribution to its guests. However, citing operation costs, since 2013, the plant runs in simulation as such practice was discontinued.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}

====Non-Atlanta locations====
{{See also|Club Cool}}
There are other World of Coca-Cola locations beyond Atlanta as well. ''[[Club Cool]]'', formerly ''Ice Station Cool'', is located in [[Walt Disney World]]'s [[Epcot]] park. When it was called Ice Station Cool, the facade was themed to resemble a polar expedition with props such as a [[snowmobile]]. Like other Coca-Cola exhibits, it included an area where guests could taste Coca-Cola beverages from around the world. In 2016, the World of Coca-Cola opened in Disney Springs, which was modelled like the Atlanta attraction.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-disney-springs-coca-cola-20160707-story.html|title=Coca-Cola Store pops into Disney Springs|last=Bevil|first=Dewayne|newspaper=OrlandoSentinel.com|access-date=February 7, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208033201/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-disney-springs-coca-cola-20160707-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It features a sampling of Coca-Cola products from around the world.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 22, 2016|title=How about trying an international Coke at Disney?|language=en-US|newspaper=Osceola News-Gazette|url=http://www.aroundosceola.com/how-about-trying-an-international-coke-at-disney/|url-status=dead|access-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208133139/http://www.aroundosceola.com/how-about-trying-an-international-coke-at-disney/|archive-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Everything Coca Cola Store; Las Vegas, Nevada.jpg|thumb|upright|Everything Coca-Cola Store in Las Vegas Nevada as seen in June 2017]] ''World of Coca-Cola Las Vegas'', built in 1997, was located in the [[Showcase Mall]] on the [[Las Vegas Strip]]. It closed in 2000, but the Everything Coca-Cola store remains open.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}{{when|date=December 2016}} ''World of Coca-Cola Tokyo'' was located on the 6th floor of Mediage in [[Daiba|Odaiba]]. It closed on January 15, 2007.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} There is also a [[Coca-Cola Museum]] in [[Taoyuan City]], [[Taiwan]] as of 2007.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=yKUQE-xdQhsC&pg=PA185 Odd theme museums in Taiwan], page 185. In Robert Kelly and Joshua Samuel Brown, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=yKUQE-xdQhsC Taiwan]'', 7th edition. [[Lonely Planet]], 2007. {{ISBN|978-1-74104-548-2}}.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery caption="Old Atlanta location">
File:Coca-Cola artifacts from the 19th, 20th & 21st century.jpg|Coca-Cola artifacts from the 19th, 20th & 21st century
File:World of Coca Cola (Underground Atlanta, original location) (155551282).jpg|Exterior in 2006, between [[Underground Atlanta]] and [[Georgia State Capitol]]
File:Worldofcocacola.jpg|Sign from the Atlanta museum in 2005, two years before it relocated
File:Coca Cola Museum, Atlanta, USA2.jpg|Interior in 2005
File:Coca Cola Museum, Atlanta, USA1.jpg|Sign in 2005
</gallery>

<gallery caption="Current Atlanta location">
File:2013.01.26.113703 World of Coca Cola Atlanta Georgia.jpg|Current World of Coca-Cola in [[Atlanta, Georgia]]
File:World-of-Coca-Cola-Atlanta.jpg|World of Coca-Cola exterior
File:World of Coca-Cola exterior, 2019.jpg|Exterior as seen in June 2019
File:Coca-Cola Museum.JPG|Interior in 2018
File:World of Coca-Cola 08.JPG|Old machines at the current museum as of 2018
File:World of Coca-Cola 06.JPG|Soda Bar in the exhibit "Milestones of Refreshment" as of 2018
File:World of Coca-Cola 07.JPG|Delivery vehicle in the exhibit "Milestones of Refreshment" as of 2018
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|Drink|History}}
* [[Coca-Cola Museum]] in [[Taoyuan, Taiwan|Taoyuan City]], [[Taiwan]]
* [[List of food and beverage museums]]
* [[List of Coca-Cola buildings and structures]]
* [[List of Coca-Cola slogans]]
* [[Tourism in Atlanta]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/ World of Coca-Cola Atlanta website]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040416084922/http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/worldofcocacola.html World of Coca-Cola from Roadside Georgia]}}

{{Coca-Cola buildings and structures}}
{{Atlanta landmarks}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:World Of Coca-Cola}}
[[Category:1990 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Coca-Cola buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Drinks museums in the United States]]
[[Category:Industry museums in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Museums established in 1990]]
[[Category:Museums in Atlanta]]