When I first heard about the Biedenharn Museum in Monroe, I did not think much of it. Like a lot of students, when I hear “museum,” I picture something slow, quiet and maybe even boring. But after visiting, I realized how much history sits just a few miles from campus, and it completely changed my mind.
The Biedenharn Museum tells the story of Joseph Biedenharn, the first person to bottle Coca-Cola back in 1894. Before then, Coke was only a fountain drink. Biedenharn had the idea to bottle it so people could buy and enjoy it anywhere: a decision that helped turn Coca-Cola into the worldwide drink we know today. Walking through the museum, you see original bottling equipment, rows of vintage Coke signs, and some of the first Coke bottles ever made. At the end of the tour, you can even buy an ice-cold Coke for only five cents, which is honestly worth the trip on its own.
During my visit, I sat down with Ralph Calhoun, who has been the museum’s director for 27 years.
“It’s just been the right place for me to be,” Calhoun said when asked what has kept him here so long.
He told me the museum is a key part of Monroe’s history and culture, and that keeping it alive is important for the community.
Calhoun also shared one of the museum’s biggest challenges: getting younger people to visit.
“I think more students coming would help for sure,” he said. “Even with Monroe wanting to be a college town, I think we have trouble getting our students to come out and enjoy the things that are available. It may be because they don’t know about it.”
Like many students, I didn’t know that Monroe played a major role in Coke’s history. After the tour, I became much more interested in learning about these beginnings of this city. The fact that a smaller city such as this was the forefront of Coca-Cola amazes me.
I also spoke with Alana McCullough, a freshman business administration major at ULM, who had a similar reaction.
“I enjoy my time spent at the museum,” McCullough said. “It’s interesting to know that something so big started in a little place like this. Also, I love Diet Coke, so being able to get one for five cents after the tour is something that makes me happy.”
The museum offers more than just history: it offers a tour of the Biedenharn family home, a Bible Museum, and a beautiful garden you can walk through.
It is not just an old building with Coke signs; it’s a piece of our city’s story. Whether you go for the history, the house and garden, or just the five-cent Coke, it’s worth spending an afternoon there. Next time you have some time to kill, go check it out and see for yourself why this place matters.
