Before McDonald's was your favorite place for a late-night snack or an afternoon McFlurry pick-me-up, it was a sit-down burger joint in San Bernardino, California. That's right: When the chain opened in 1940, it didn't even serve fast food. Find out how McDonald's took over the world (we kid, kind of...) and enjoy these photos that show just how much the franchise has changed over the decades.
1940: The First Restaurant
Brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first McDonald's in 1940 in San Bernardino, California. Back then, it was a sit-down restaurant, but it was rebranded as a speedy drive-in hamburger stand post-World War II.
1955: A New Leader
In 1955, businessman Raymond Kroc joined the company and transformed it into the iconic fast food joint we know today—and he eventually bought the brothers out for $2.7 million in 1961. Fun fact: The original McDonald's mascot was a chef hat on top of a winking hamburger face named Speedee (pictured).
1956: Drive-In Destination
Before it was a drive-thru, McDonald's was a drive-in—and here's what a typical location would look like in the late '50s when burgers only cost 15 cents.
1963: Ronald McDonald Was Born
Largely inspired by Bozo the Clown, the character of Ronald McDonald first appeared in advertisements on TV in 1963. The brand ambassador's full moniker was "Ronald McDonald, the Hamburger-Happy Clown." Here, an actor gives a second grade class at Grove Park Elementary School a fire safety lesson.
1967: Toys For Tots Donations
In the '60s, children who donated their old toys to Toys for Tots received a certificate for a free hamburger and French fries. Approximately 20,000 children across 30 hospitals, orphanages, and other institutions in north Colorado benefitted from the effort. Be still, our hearts!
1970: The Third Restaurant
This was the third McDonald's restaurant ever built. It opened in Downey, California, in 1953, and is the oldest McDonald's still in operation. It is also now a designated national landmark.
1971: The Ronald McDonald House
McDonald's has a long history of charity work, including The Ronald McDonald House, which is a nonprofit organization that provides housing and other resources to families with sick children. It was founded in 1974, so not long after the charity event pictured here.
1972: Global Expansion
McDonald's began expanding into international markets in 1967 when it opened locations in Canada and Puerto Rico. The company's first Australian location was in the Sydney suburb of Yagoona, and was appropriately celebrated with a massive burger.
1973: The 2,500th McDonald's
President Frederick Turner and CEO Raymond Kroc posing in celebration of the opening of McDonald's 2,500th location, which was located in a suburban shopping center in Hickory Hills, Illinois. Not sure why they're holding a broom and mop, but OK!
1973: Taking Over Japan
McDonald's expanded to Japan in 1971. Now, the country boasts around 3,000 McDonald's locations as well as an array of unique menu items including the Mega Teriyaki Burger, Cheese Tsukimi Burger, and Chicken Tatsuta.
1973: A McDonald's Billboard
While the location of this billboard is unknown, one thing's for certain: Anyone who passed by it definitely wanted a Big Mac afterwards.
1973: Andy Warhol Approved
Even New York City's social elite ate at McDonald's back in the day! Here, Andy Warhol attends a black tie dinner hosted at a McDonald's on Fifth Avenue in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. His plus one? His beloved dachshund, Archie.
1974: Ronald McDonald Entertains
McDonald's cheery mascot accompanied 40 children from Sydney, Australia's Far West Home on a visit to their local Taronga Zoo. Ronald McDonald would often pop up at charity events hosted by the fast-food joint, specifically those involving children in need.
1975: A McDonald's Wedding
McDonald's employee Annette Scaramozza married Anthony Francis in a McDonald's restaurant in east Boston. She wanted to host the nuptials there so she could share the day with her fellow employees. If we're being honest, those flower arches are everything.
1976: Best Birthday Celebration
American politician Hugh Carter gets the ultimate birthday present: A Big Mac cooking lesson from a McDonald's manager. Now we know what we're asking for next year.
1977: Another Birthday
OK, we found an even better birthday gift. This five-year-old patient at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney, Australia got a 185 pound McDonald's hamburger-shaped birthday cake.
1978: Uniform Protests
Even McDonald's has had its fair share of conflict over the years. Members of Denver's Lovingway Inner City United Pentacostal Church protested the business when managers wouldn't allow a church member to work there wearing a dress. Danette DiCroce (pictured in the hat) was fired for not adhering to their pants-only dress code, only to be rehired soon after. Today, the typical McDonald's uniform still consists of slacks and a shirt.
1979: A Classic Meal
Here's what a McDonald's Big Mac and large fries looked like in the late '70s—all of which would set you back only $1.50.
1979: A Guest Home
The Ronald McDonald House guest homes provide accommodation to families with sick children who need to be located near a hospital. This one, which opened in 1979, was located near the Denver Children's Hospital.
1980: Popular Social Spot
Even back in the '80s, McDonald's was a common spot for young people to gather—and here's the proof.
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