The Dandier Choice: Visiting the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas (and a Larry McMurtry Connection)
In Roads: Driving America’s Great Highways, Larry McMurtry wrote,
“Had I been in a museum mood, I could have inspected two dandies in Waco — the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum or the even dandier Dr Pepper Museum.”
Naturally, we couldn’t resist checking out the dandier of the two. McMurtry, a rumored Dr Pepper devotee, gave us the perfect excuse to sip our way through some Lone Star history during our time in Waco, Texas.
A Texas Original (and the Oldest Major Soft Drink in the U.S.)
Created in 1885 by pharmacist Charles Alderton at the Old Corner Drugstore in Waco, Dr Pepper predates Coca-Cola by a year and Pepsi by nearly a decade. The museum celebrates that origin story with charm and carbonation-fueled wonder.
Brand loyalty and a good sense of humor greet guests with a sign near the entrance: “No smoking, weapons, vaping, soliciting, Coke, or Pepsi.”
The Allure of Fizz
One of the first displays reminded us that humanity’s love of fizzy water goes way back. From Hippocrates praising its healing powers to 18th-century apothecaries mixing bubbles into tonics, carbonated water was once considered a cure-all.
A few of our favorite “bubble facts”:
In 216 BCE, Hannibal’s army stopped at the fizzing springs in France — now the source of Perrier.
The first tonic water (1858) was packed with quinine, inspiring the British to invent the gin & tonic.
Charles Hires, a root-beer pioneer, famously said: “Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark: you know what you’re doing, but nobody else does.”
Liquid Sunshine
Early Dr Pepper ads were downright poetic. One featured Atlas carrying the world with the slogan:
“Drink Dr Pepper — Vim. Vigor. Vitality.”
Beneath Atlas, the ad said, “If Atlas were on earth he would recommend Dr. Pepper. Try it. It is liquid sunshine. It is what you want to promote strength.”
The brand’s famous blend of 23 flavors remains a mystery, but its nostalgic pull is evident. We wandered past vintage bottles, neon signs, and whimsical Rose Bowl parade floats promoting Dr Pepper.
From Soda Jerks to Highways
By 1910, “soda jerks” were mixing flavored syrups with carbonated water for America’s growing sweet tooth. The museum ties that golden era to the rise of road trips and convenience stores, which blossomed along America’s new highway system. We loved seeing a display about the Meridian Highway, known as the “Main Street of North America,” the precursor to today’s I-35, which still runs right through Waco. It dates back to 1911.
There’s also a 7UP bottling exhibit with a Minnesota connection, a nod to home for us.
A Sweet Finish
After all that history, we headed to the soda fountain for a classic treat. I ordered a Dr Pepper float (how could I not?), and Chris went for a Strawberries and Cream Dr Pepper—the perfect upgrade. We didn’t have time to make it to the Texas Ranger museum. Still, we suspect McMurtry was right — the Dr Pepper Museum is the dandier choice, a fizzy slice of American ingenuity and nostalgia.
If You Go
📍 Location: Dr Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute, Waco TX
🕓 Hours: Typically 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., 7 Days a Week (check seasonal hours)
- 💵 Admission: Around $12 general admission; it’s free for children 4 years and younger. Tickets must be purchased on-site (online sales aren’t available)
🍨 Must-Try: A Dr Pepper Float from the soda fountain.
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