Elaine Botello, Board Member of the Dr Pepper Museum, lifelong Wacoan, and community leader, along with her husband, Jesus, proudly supported the World’s Largest Dr Pepper Bottle. 

For Elaine, the connection to the Dr Pepper Museum is deeply personal. As a proud Wacoan, she has always appreciated the Museum’s role in preserving and sharing one of the city’s most iconic stories.

“The Dr Pepper Museum represents so much more than a soft drink,” Elaine shared. “It tells the story of innovation, entrepreneurship, community pride, and the unique spirit of Waco. Supporting the Museum means supporting a piece of our city’s identity and history.  It’s also at the center of the Waco neighborhood where Jesus and I grew up.”

Elaine and Jesus chose to support the World’s Largest Dr Pepper Bottle project because they recognized its potential to become a meaningful symbol for both residents and visitors. “We knew this project would create excitement, attract attention to downtown Waco, and provide something memorable for families and tourists to experience together,” she said. “Being part of something that celebrates our community in such a fun and visible way was very important to us.”

Seeing the completed landmark has been especially rewarding. “It’s exciting knowing our support helped bring this vision to life,” Elaine said. “Every time I see people taking pictures, smiling, and enjoying the experience, it reminds me how projects like this create lasting memories and strengthen community pride.  At the Museum’s 35th Birthday Bash, once the World’s Largest Dr Pepper Bottle was unveiled, we stood proudly for our community.  I also chuckled when I overheard a little boy tell his mom that he wanted to drink” that Dr Pepper” referring to the big bottle!

One of Elaine’s favorite experiences connected to the Museum has been watching visitors from all over the country discover Waco’s history through the Dr Pepper story. “The Museum has a way of bringing people together — locals, tourists, families, and generations of Dr Pepper fans,” she shared. “It’s wonderful seeing how much joy and curiosity it creates.”

To those considering supporting the Museum in the future, Elaine offers simple encouragement: “The Dr Pepper Museum is one of Waco’s treasures. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps preserve history, support educational experiences, and create new opportunities for our community. Supporting the Museum is truly an investment in Waco’s future.”