The history of Coca-Cola began in 1886 when Dr. John S. Pemberton, a pharmacist from Atlanta, was looking for a medicine to cure his morphine addiction acquired during the American Civil War. He developed a formula in syrup form and mixed it with carbonated water. His accountant, Frank M. Robinson, when he tried the drink thought about marketing it, he designed the logo and gave it the name Coca-Cola because of its two main ingredients: coca leaves and cola nuts.
The first sales took place at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, as a medicinal drink served in a glass for five cents. In 1888, Pemberton sold the formula to Asa G. Candler, who founded The Coca-Cola Company based in Atlanta. Under the leadership of mr. Candler, Coca-Cola distribution expanded as soda fountains.
Biedenharn Candy Company, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, was one of the establishments where this soft drink was sold. Its success was such that the owner, Joseph Biedenharn, decided to install a bottling machine, similar to those used for milk, in the back of his store and offer this drink in a transportable way. It was on March 12, 1894 when he put the first Coca-Cola in a glass bottle on sale, 126 years ago today.
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, western Mississippi, located at the confluence of the Yazoo River with the Mississippi River. Founded in 1811 and incorporated as a city in 1825, it has a rich history that can be explored in numerous museums in the area, such as the Biedenharn Coca-Cola® Museum, which houses a variety of exhibits depicting the history of the Biedenharn family, a reproduction of the equipment used for bottling, advertising and memorabilia from the company’s past to present.
It is located in the building that was initially used by the Biedenharn family. And although it changed hands several times, it was finally repurchased by the Biedenharn family in 1979, restored and donated to the Vicksburg Foundation for the preservation of historical heritage. The museum, located in the center of town, is open daily except New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
One must go to Vicksburg to learn something about the Civil War, as a 47-day siege turned it into a war zone until Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. This fact, together with the victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, turned the war in favor of the Union.
You just have to take a walk through the National Military Park, which occupies seven square kilometers of hills and trenches, and partially surrounds the city. The National Cemetery, at the north end of the park, contains the gravestones of 17,000 Union dead – about 40% black soldiers – 13,000 of whom are unknown soldiers. Some 5,000 Confederate dead, 3,400 unknown, are buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Little pieces of Europe in the heart of America
