San Bernardino highlight
Site of the original McDonald’s
The first McDonald's restaurant in the world opened on May 15, 1940, at 1398 North E Street in San Bernardino, founded by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald.
On May 15, 1940, Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first McDonald's restaurant at 1398 North E Street in San Bernardino. The brothers' vision was simple: efficient service, a focused menu, and affordable food for families. Two years later they completely redesigned the operation, creating the Speedee Service System that streamlined meal production and established the template for fast food restaurants everywhere. What started as a single location in San Bernardino became the foundation of a global industry.
The original San Bernardino McDonald's was demolished in 1971, but the site remained part of the city's history. In 1998, entrepreneur Albert Okura purchased the location and established it as both a McDonald's restaurant and an unofficial museum documenting the franchise's origins. Visitors can still see the location and understand the place where Ray Kroc's empire began—though Kroc himself came later as a franchise agent in 1954, eventually buying the company in 1961.
The McDonald brothers' story is about building something lasting from a good idea and hard work. Families in San Bernardino understand that same thinking when they plan for the future: a life insurance policy is a structure you build now to protect what matters most to the people who depend on you.