McDonald's Museum on Site of First Store to Be Torn Down

The McDonald's No. 1 Store Museum in Des Plaines, Illinois, will be torn down next month.

The museum was built on the site of Ray Kroc's first restaurant that was opened in 1955 after he franchised the brand from original owners, Richard and Maurice McDonald, Time reported.

The restaurant was torn down in 1984 to create the museum, which is a replica of the original store and has the original sign out front. It has been closed to the public for 10 years because of repeated flooding on the site, according to The Associated Press.

"The re-created restaurant … has not regularly welcomed visitors since closing to the public 10 years ago," McDonald's said in a statement, Time reported. "This combined with the building's location and feasibility to reopen and maintain it led us to this decision."

The company plans to donate the land back to Des Plaines, Time reported.

Many on Twitter were disappointed they never got to visit the once-popular tourist attraction.

I just read that you're closing the McDonald's museum in Des Plaines, Ill. That's a shame. Due to flooding and poor attendance? I wish I would have got to see it. @McDonalds

— MrNobody845 (@MrNobody845) November 21, 2017

Oh come on! The McDonald's museum is a historic sight! It's one of the few things that made Des Plaines unique!

— Stephen Groves (@MonkeysxMoo) November 21, 2017

Why don't people just dessimate all things sacred?

— Jade Blue Afterglow (@KarenJadeBlue) November 21, 2017

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