ATLANTA — There are few things more American than Coca-Cola, and even fewer places more Atlanta than the World of Coke. As the iconic brand prepares to celebrate its 129th anniversary, my family had a chance to take in the sights and sounds of the place that celebrates all that makes Coke part of the fabric of our culture.
We were impressed by the massive Coke bottles that greet visitors at the entrance, a work created by folk artist Howard Finster for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, an event, like Coke itself, that put Atlanta on the world map.
It became evident that the World of Coke is an international draw during our first stop on the self-guided tour when the host asked from where everyone came.
Our family was one of two in the room from Georgia. There were South Africans, Koreans, Canadians, even a Bermudan in the audience, as well as a collection of others from across the continental United States. It was no surprise, as the World of Coca-Cola welcomes guests from six continents, more than 75 countries, and all 50 states, and has welcomed 8 million guests.
As we strolled through the 100,000 square-foot museum, we learned about the soft drink's storied history starting with John Pemberton and reminded of the marketing juggernaut Asa Candler created all those years ago.
We walked within inches of the vault that holds the secret formula that has made Coke distinguishably delicious since Pemberton first mixed those ingredients years ago at Jacob's Pharmacy.
And, of course, no trip to the museum is complete without sampling drinks from across the world. My personal favorite was the frosty melon from Thailand!
WSBTV
