Smithsonian museums continue to be closed to support the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. Read a message from our director, and check our website and social media for updates.

McDonald's Clam Shell Container

McDonald's Clam Shell Container

<< >>
Usage conditions apply
Downloads
Description
This yellow, polystyrene clam shell food container held one McDonald’s Quarter Pounder® with cheese. It is yellow with red writing all over, which says “Quarter Pounder® with cheese,” “100% pure beef. Wgt. ¼ lb. before cooking,” the name “McDonald’s®” and the double arches logo. The Quarter Pounder® was introduced in 1973 to the national market for customers who wanted a larger hamburger patty than McDonald’s® standard hamburger.
The McDonald’s Corporation is one of the most recognizable hamburger restaurants in the United States. As of 2011, the McDonald’s Corporation and franchisees were operating in 119 countries with 1.9 million employees, making it the 4th largest employer in the world.
In 1940, Richard (Dick) and Maurice (Mac) McDonald opened the first McDonald’s Bar-B-Q drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California. In 1948, the brothers redesigned their menu, centering on the 15 cent hamburger. In 1954, Ray Kroc, a Multimixer (milkshake machine) salesman, became interested in the McDonalds brothers’ high volume restaurant. He worked out a deal with the brothers to be their franchising agent and opened the first franchise location in Illinois the following year. Under Kroc’s direction, the company grew to become the giant we know today.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
container
Associated Date
1975-1990
Physical Description
polystyrene (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 13 cm x 13.5 cm x 7 cm; 5 1/8 in x 5 5/16 in x 2 3/4 in
ID Number
1998.0349.04
accession number
1998.0349
catalog number
1998.0349.04
See more items in
Work and Industry: Retail and Marketing
Food
Advertising
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.   

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.

Note: Comment submission on our collection pages is temporarily unavailable. Please check back soon!

If you have a question or require a personal response, please visit our FAQ or contact page.