Sipping history: An unforgettable journey through the Coca-Cola Museum

A journey lasting more than a day concludes in Atlanta, only to mark the start of another, a 10-day adventure. This trip is a quest to experience the essence of the 11 states that make up the Southern United States. It begins in Georgia, home to Atlanta. I’m unsure how many states I’ll explore, but I aim to see as many as possible. Since I’ve already visited Virginia, I’ll be skipping it. It’s nearly 4 o’clock. Immigration was smooth, with minimal questions asked. The weather isn’t great, just a gentle reminder to stay cautious.

Beginning of the journey
A Mercedes Sprinter van arranged by Brand USA awaits outside the airport.  Peter, a tall and healthy African-American driver, effortlessly lifts heavy boxes into the shining black Sprinter limo's rear storage.  Only after getting into the vehicle did I see that there were other passengers and guests invited: journalists and travel agency representatives.  Five of us in total. We introduced ourselves.  Everyone quickly lowered their heads to their phones and resumed their work. The vehicle started moving. There wasn't heavy rain, nothing compared to our monsoon rains.

Rain's shadow
The journey is to the Kimpton Sylvan, a boutique hotel.  It rained incessantly until we reached the hotel. It seems my welcome to America this time is with rain. Is rain a good omen? I don't know. But things took a sudden turn. Flash flooding was reported in the low-lying areas of Atlanta. Vehicles were stranded and houses isolated in the flash floods.  When I activated my roaming number, a buzzer blared a safety warning: 'Do not go outside, there is flooding.' Luckily, we weren't stuck on the road. Peter navigated us safely and delivered the luggage to the elegantly simple lobby of the Kimpton Hotel.  We checked in quickly and went to the room. 

The journalist awakens... 
The room is spacious and luxurious. A hallway between the large bathroom and the bed adds a sense of privacy. In addition to chairs and two tables, a grand sofa set dominates the space. A large, inviting bed completes the lavish setting. This is America, where everything feels extravagant and extra large. I picked a Southern Special chocolate from the bowl on the table and pulled back the curtains. Below, the road stretched out, lined with rows of trees and plants. Beyond them, a park and a few elegant buildings stood in quiet solitude. Not a soul in sight. The rain had begun to pour heavily. When the buzzer sounded again, sharp and insistent, the journalist in me woke up.

Live from Atlanta 
Is this truly a major flood threat? Atlanta has a significant Indian and Malayali population. Should I report this for Manorama Online? I called the Malayalis, who I knew in and around Atlanta. Everyone was safe—only a few were stranded, unable to get home from work. I filed a live report, highlighting the possibility of a storm and heavy rain. Within seconds, the story, complete with images, became breaking news on Manorama Online. With that done, I took a quick shower and prepared for the next event.

Georgia Tourism has invited me to dinner at the Consulate Hotel this evening. Samanta Joyner, their representative, told me to meet at 7.30 pm. But the rain disrupted everything. The original dinner plans were canceled, so I had dinner at the hotel instead. While the Consulate was a top restaurant in Atlanta, the 'Betty' restaurant in the hotel wasn't bad, either. It excelled in luxury and culinary variety. We had dinner there. I didn't eat much; something like a sandwich. That was enough.

Clear skies, silent breeze
After dinner, I returned to the lobby. It wasn't dark yet. There is no rain, no wind. Should I go outside? Isn't there a warning? Will there be a problem? Hesitantly, as I reached for one of the large umbrellas in a basket near the door, the receptionist shouted, "Bro, I'm also Navy!" I didn't understand what had happened.  The man with long braided hair smiled broadly.  I understood.  On the back of my t-shirt, 'Indian Navy' was written in large letters. Seeing that is what made him react. Whether Indian Navy or US Navy, it's all Navy—a solidarity. I must have received this t-shirt and a cap as a gift at some Navy function long ago. After a brief exchange, I 'pacified' the receptionist, took an umbrella, and went outside. The rain was just a drizzle...

Deserted street
There was nobody on the road. Peter had given me a City Pass, and I can see many places in Atlanta using it. But where should I go? There are no vehicles running, and there's no strong wind or rain. But people aren't coming out. Shops are closed. Only a shop selling wine and beer is open—an essential service! I walked some distance and returned to the hotel.

Coca-Cola aka Coke
Atlanta is the capital of Coca-Cola.  Here, in Atlanta, was the birth of the cola that Americans affectionately call 'Coke'. Though Coca-Cola has no connection to alcohol, it has a connection to Prohibition. In 1886, when Prohibition was implemented in Atlanta, Coke, based on African kola nuts, was created as a replacement for alcohol and gained popularity. Colonel John Pemberton is the creator of Coca-Cola.  A medical practitioner, Pemberton developed Coke under the name 'Pemberton's French Wine Coca' a year before Prohibition at his Eagle Drug House. With the arrival of Prohibition, sales were transferred from Columbia County, Georgia, to Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta.

 Anti-Alcohol movement
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Coca-Cola became a fighter in the Temperance Movement, an anti-alcohol movement that spread across America.  In the 17th century, alcohol was common in America as part of the colonial lifestyle. People of all ages consume excessive amounts of alcohol. But in the 19th century, the growth of Protestant Christianity turned against alcohol. Thus, the Temperance Movement and temperance bars— bars that sold alcohol-free stimulating drinks —were born. Coca-Cola held a prominent position among these drinks. 

5 Cents a glass
A glass full of frothy cola was sold for the insignificant price of 5 cents. Later, Coke was sold in soda fountains in drug stores.  It was patented. In 1887, industrial-scale production began in partnership with prominent Atlanta industrialists Asa Griggs Candler, Frank M. Robinson, and others. 

Coca-Cola: A name born
Meanwhile, Pemberton's French Wine was renamed Coca-Cola.  Ownership was transferred to Pemberton's son, Charley. In 1888, the Coca-Cola Company was officially established. Everything else is history. It has now grown into a beverage sold in over 200 countries with 2 billion bottles sold daily.  In 2024, Coca-Cola was ranked among the Fortune 500 list, standing as the top American company in terms of revenue. A sad fact: John Pemberton, who created Coca-Cola, died in 1888.  His only heir, Charley, also died at the age of forty, without seeing Coca-Cola's growth. Heavy alcohol consumption and drug use were the causes of death.  It's ironic that the owner of a cola created to combat alcohol died because of it. 

World of Coca-Cola
The World of Coca-Cola is the Coca-Cola museum in Atlanta.  While similar museums exist in Las Vegas and Disney Springs, this museum, established in 1990, is magnificent. The weather cleared up, and a smiling morning dawned. Breakfast was at the hotel's famous Betty restaurant. We tasted various sandwiches, eggs and bacon, fruit salad, etc., and walked to the waiting Sprinter van. The journey to the world of cola is next. 

The World of Cola
A large crowd, mostly children, was present when the Sprinter stopped near the entrance. A large Coca-Cola neon sign, 30 feet high and almost as long, shone brightly even in the daylight, offering a welcome. The museum was established in 1990 and moved to its current location with more space in 2007.  It's Atlanta's most visited indoor venue, filling a 10,000-square-foot building on 20 acres. With an Atlanta City Pass, costing $94 for adults and $74 for children, one can visit seven locations, including Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, and Zoo Atlanta. 

Discover and observe...
The journey begins with a 3D film depicting the history of cola. The museum, spread over three floors, recreates the history of Coke from 1886. The tour is from the top floor downwards.  More than a thousand artifacts related to cola are displayed here: century-old signboards, advertisements, cola bottles, cola vans, fountains — a true journey through history. There's also a fully functional Coke assembly line here.

See it, taste it
The excitement reaches its peak when we arrive at the Spectacular Fountain and Taste of the World pavilions. One can taste over 140 Coke products from various countries of the world to their heart's content.  An interesting fact: the taste varies from country to country. The cola in India is not the same as in America, nor is it the same in Europe or China. Though everything is made from the original essence, local variations have been introduced. Not just Coke, but hundreds of other drinks like Fanta, known and unknown, can be tasted here. After tasting everything, one must taste the original Coca-Cola, a century old. Not sweet, but bitter... 

Off to the Coke Store
After getting intoxicated with different genres of Coke, I went to the Coke store.  I bought a small model of a red Coke van, a Coke plate, and a fridge magnet containing models of Coke bottles from different eras.  I was supposed to visit the Georgia Aquarium today, but the adverse weather conditions and the resulting time constraints meant that the plan was cancelled.