The Dr Pepper Museum completed the Mary Avenue Façade Project on Tuesday, June 30. The project restored and updated the Mary Avenue Side of the historic Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company (AMBC) building, a National Register-listed site that houses three floors of Museum exhibits.
The Dr Pepper Museum began work on the Mary Avenue Façade Project on Wednesday, February 4. Preserving the AMBC building safeguards one of Waco’s most significant industrial landmarks. This work protects the integrity of a National Register–listed site while adapting it for continued public use and community engagement. Project elements include restoring window frames along Mary Avenue and 5th Street, repairing Mary Avenue doors to reflect their original roll-door design, and adding an additional accessibility ramp. By investing in its long-term care, the Dr Pepper Museum honors the people, innovation, and cultural heritage that shaped the building and the city.
Since opening in 1991, the Dr Pepper Museum has completed several major restoration projects to preserve the AMBC building’s original features. The Mary Avenue project builds on those efforts, ensuring this iconic Waco landmark remains welcoming and well cared for, for years to come.
The project is funded through grants and community support. To date, generous funding has been provided by Mary Avenue Project Sponsors, including the Cooper Foundation, Keurig Dr Pepper, City of Waco, City Center Waco, Texas Downtown Association’s Anice Read Fund, and the Texas Historical Foundation, along with Museum contributions and designated donor gifts.
Project contractors include Talbert Construction, Adam Heath Construction, Cardinal Wall Systems and architect BJ Greaves.
While separate from the façade work, the Museum’s newest courtyard installation, 23-foot “World’s Largest Dr Pepper Bottle”, reflects the same commitment to preserving history while enhancing the guest experience. The World’s Largest Dr Pepper Bottle was installed and revealed during the Museum’s 35th Birthday Bash on Saturday, May 9.
