Museum dedicated to Big Mac-North Huntingdon, PA

In 1967, Jim Delliatti was thinking “out of the box” when he introduced a new menu item at his Uniontown, PA, restaurant.  While it’s hard to say whether or not he anticipated his creation—now served in a box-like package--as one of the most recognized menu items available today.

Jim Delliatti introduced
the Big Mac in
Uniontown, PA, in 1967.
Big Mac Museum photo.

To learn more about Delliatti and his notorious “Big Mac” sandwich, seek out the Big Mac Museum in North Huntingdon, PA. An operating McDonald’s restaurant, the establishment offers the same menu as other chain locations and includes an indoor play area for kids. Unique to the museum is the World’s Largest Big Mac--measuring 14’ high and 12’ wide--a fake hamburger balanced on a silver pedestal.

In the 1960s, Delliatti owned and operated several McDonald’s restaurants in the Pittsburgh area, and was in competition with the “Big Boy” sandwich at the Eat‘n Park restaurant chain. Recognizing that McDonald’s needed a product more geared to adults, Delliatti invented the burger and introduced it at his Uniontown establishment for 45 cents. An impressive 600 million Big Macs are now sold yearly. 

The Big Mac Museum was opened
in North Huntingdon, PA, in 2007.

Although the burger was pleasing to the palate, its name proved distasteful in its marketing. Originally called the Aristocrat, the name was not only puzzling but difficult to pronounce. Changing to Blue Ribbon Burger didn’t remedy the situation. It took a 21-year-old advertising secretary named Esther Rose to convince key management to change the name to the now-iconic, Big Mac.

In 1968, Delliatti persuaded the McDonald’s chain to put his Big Mac into nationwide distribution and as they say, "the rest is history."

The signature sandwich was used in the franchises’ advertising campaigns including the famous jingle of the mid-1970s--Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickle, onions--on a sesame seed bun. Officer Big Mac, a character in the fictional McDonaldland, was also used for advertising purposes. The town's Chief of Police, the figure wore a constable uniform and sported a large Big Mac for its head.

The World's Largest Big Mac statue
is located in the Big Mac Museum
in North Huntingdon, PA. It's 14' high. 

Along with its oversize famous hamburger statue, the Big Mac museum consists of timelines with photographs and factoids from idea to inception. To enjoy all of the showcases of awards, history of packaging displays, and bobble-heads of the Delliatti employees, it’s best to visit during off-peak periods to navigate around the memorabilia displayed throughout the restaurant's eating area.

The Big Mac Museum opened on August 22, 2007 to celebrate

the sandwich's 40^th anniversary. While some Uniontown residents were said to have been unhappy with its location, a McDonald’s spokesperson said the decision was "based on ease of highway access.”

The Big Mac Museum is located at 9061 Route 30, North Huntingdon, PA. (One-half mile west of I6/Pennsylvania Turnpike exit 67.) For more information, telephone (724) 863-9837. Free admission.

More photos of the Big Mac Museum below.

Special thanks to Curtis McCormick for his photography and help with this blog post. 

©2015 Kendal R. Miller-All Rights Reserved
Photos by Photography by Kendal 

©2015 Photos by Curtis McCormick
Frames, Phrases, and Photography by Kendal, LLC

The Big Mac Museum opened in North Huntingdon, PA, in
2007 and celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Big Mac.
Photo by Curtis McCormick. 

Wallpaper in the Big Mac Museum shows various
McDonald's locations. The famous jingle, "Two all-beef patties..."
(you know the rest) is inscribed on this
table top Big Mac statue. 

Photos and factoids along with timelines are part of the decor
of the Big Mac Museum located in North Huntingdon, PA.

Photos of the history of the Big Mac on laminated on tables
 and framed on the walls of the restaurant area of the museum.
Showcases are filled with more memorabilia. For a better look,
plan your visit during off-peak hours. 

PHOTO BOMB! :) Trying to get a photo in front of the famous
"World's Largest Big Mac" can pose problems such as a young
customers who run into the scene unexpectedly.
 Photo by Curtis McCormick. 

Meeting my photobomber at the Big Mac Museum
in North Huntingdon, PA. Photo by Curtis McCormick.