We're Lovin' It: 20 Surprising Facts About The History Of McDonald's
The Empire Behind The Arches
Few brands have influenced global eating habits as profoundly as McDonald’s. What began as a small burger stand evolved into a cultural and culinary powerhouse that redefined quick service and marketing worldwide. The golden arches have witnessed innovation, ambition, and transformation. Read on to discover 20 surprising facts revealing how McDonald’s became a defining force in modern food history—and why people still say, “I’m lovin’ it.”
1. McDonald’s Originally Sold Hot Dogs
In 1940, McDonald’s was known for hot dogs, not burgers. The McDonald brothers dropped them when they simplified the menu in 1948. Decades later, the chain briefly revisited the idea with the McHotDog experiment, which ran from 1995 to 1999.
McDog - McDonald's Hot Dog by JunkFoodTasterDotCom (1:05)
2. McDonald’s Has A Hamburger University
Since 1961, McDonald’s has operated Hamburger University—a corporate training center in Illinois where managers and franchisees learn everything from operations to leadership. It even offers a degree in Hamburgerology, blending business strategy with burger know-how.
3. The First Mascot Wasn’t Ronald McDonald
McDonald’s first mascot wasn’t Ronald—it was Speedee, a cheerful, burger-headed chef who represented their fast “Speedee Service System.” He appeared on early signs and packaging before being replaced by Ronald McDonald in the 1960s.
4. Ray Kroc Didn’t Found McDonald’s
At 52, Ray Kroc was selling milkshake machines when he met the McDonald brothers in 1954. Seeing their potential, he opened his first franchise in Illinois, then bought them out for $2.7 million in 1961, turning McDonald’s into a global powerhouse.
5. McDonald’s Once Served Bubblegum-Flavored Broccoli
In an effort to make vegetables fun for kids, McDonald’s created bubblegum-flavored broccoli. The result was exactly what it sounds like—sweet at first bite, then pure broccoli aftertaste. It never made it to menus, but it’s still one of McDonald’s wildest experiments.
6. The World’s First McDonald’s Drive-Thru Was Built To Serve Soldiers
In 1975, soldiers stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, weren’t allowed to leave their cars in uniform. McDonald’s solved the problem by opening its first drive-thru nearby in Sierra Vista, creating a fast-food innovation that would completely change how people ordered meals.
Visit the first McDonald's drive-thru and more in Sierra Vista by ThisIsTucson
7. The Big Mac Was Invented By A Franchise Owner
The famous Big Mac came from Pennsylvania franchise owner Jim Delligatti, not McDonald’s headquarters. In 1967, he created the double-decker burger and its creamy “secret sauce.” Customers loved it so much that McDonald’s made it a permanent menu item nationwide the next year.
🍔 12 YEARS LATER 🍔 Revisiting McDonald's BIG MAC Meal by KBDProductionsTV
8. The Original Menu Only Had Nine Items
Simplicity once defined McDonald’s. In 1948, the brothers served only nine things—hamburgers, cheeseburgers, drinks, chips, and pie among them. Burgers cost just 15 cents, showcasing how efficiency and speed could make a small menu into a massive restaurant success story.
9. McDonald’s Once Owned Chipotle Mexican Grill
McDonald’s helped turn Chipotle into a major name in fast casual dining. Starting in 1998 with just sixteen locations, McDonald’s expanded its growth to more than five hundred before selling its stake in 2006 to refocus on its own core business.
10. McDonald’s Introduced Breakfast To Fast Food
Before fast food mornings were a thing, McDonald’s franchisee Herb Peterson dreamed up the Egg McMuffin using a ring mold for its round egg. His creation took off so fast that by 1977, breakfast classics like hotcakes and hash browns joined the menu.
11. McDonald’s Was Once The World’s Largest Toy Distributor
Happy Meals turned McDonald’s into an unexpected toy empire. What began with simple McDonaldland figures grew into global partnerships with major brands. By the 1990s, the company handed out over 1.5 billion toys every year—outpacing even dedicated toy retailers.
12. McDonald’s Created A Futuristic Store Called McDonald’s Next
In Hong Kong, McDonald’s Next reimagined fast food for the digital age. Touchscreen kiosks, sleek interiors, and table service replaced traditional counters. Diners could customize premium burgers or choose healthier options—all within a bright, modern space.
13. McDonald’s Opened In Moscow In 1990 During The Soviet Era
When the golden arches rose over Moscow’s Pushkin Square, thousands of Soviets lined up for hours to get a taste of the West. That first McDonald’s visit symbolized far more than fast food—it marked a cultural and political shift across the Soviet Union.
Artem Svetlov from Moscow, Russia on Wikimedia
14. McDonald’s Once Sold Pizza
In the late 1980s, McDonald’s tried adding pizza to its menu. Called McPizza, it was an ambitious idea—but it didn’t last long. The cooking time slowed service, which clashed with McDonald’s quick-serve model, and the company soon went back to its burger roots.
15. Ronald McDonald Was First Played By A TV Weatherman
The first Ronald wasn’t a polished mascot at all. Washington, D.C. weatherman Willard Scott played him in 1963, and had a paper cup for a nose and a food tray hat. His quirky look became the foundation for McDonald’s most famous character.
Ronald McDonald original theme song! (1963) by Clomeval
16. McDonald’s Launched A Luxury Burger In 1996
Trying to impress adults, McDonald’s rolled out the Arch Deluxe—an upscale burger with a “grown-up” sauce and sleek marketing. But customers weren’t buying it. The pricey sandwich quickly disappeared, remembered today as one of the company’s boldest flops.
1996 - McDonald's - Arch Deluxe & Fish Fillet Deluxe Commercial by Consumer Time Capsule
17. McDonald’s Created A Fashion Line In Sweden
Fast food met fashion in Sweden when McDonald’s released the “McCollection.” The 2017 limited line included hoodies, socks, and umbrellas covered in Big Mac prints. It turned the brand’s everyday packaging into tongue-in-cheek streetwear for fans with a sense of humor.
McDonald's McFashion: Introducing Big Mac Clothing Line by ABC News
18. The McDonald’s Monopoly Game Was Involved In A Fraud Scandal
A simple marketing game turned into a massive scandal. An employee at McDonald’s marketing agency rigged the Monopoly promotion for years, stealing winning pieces and millions in prizes. The scheme inspired both a documentary and a bestselling true-crime book.
I WON on MCDONALDS MONOPOLY! by ARPLATINUM
19. McDonald’s Once Ran A Plane-Turned-Restaurant In New Zealand
One of McDonald’s most unique locations sat inside a retired DC-3 airplane in Taupō, New Zealand. Guests could eat their meals in the restored cabin, which turned a vintage aircraft into a one-of-a-kind dining destination.
20. The World’s Largest McDonald’s Is In Orlando
Along Orlando’s International Drive stands the world’s biggest McDonald’s—an incredible 19,000-square-foot attraction known as “Epic McD.” Inside, guests find a full bakery, massive arcade, expansive PlayPlace, and a menu featuring international dishes.
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