The McDonald's outlet in Downey, California, was not the first McDonald's, but it is the oldest that's still with us, despite the efforts of the McDonald's Corporation that has spent decades trying to update it. Its historic condition is due to the work of the McDonald brothers (who opened it before Ray Kroc took over McDonald's), the couple that owned the Downey location for many years (who never became franchisees of Ray Kroc's company), historical preservationists, and the people of Downey. The Downey restaurant still has its neon Golden Arches soaring above the building, still has Speedee on its sign, and is still a walk-up hamburger stand. McDonald's itself has changed so much in the 70 years since this outlet opened in 1953, so it serves as a reminder of what McDonald's was in the early days.
This video from Mashed chronicles some of the more interesting milestones in the evolution of McDonald's, and how the Downey hamburger stand stood against the tide and became a nostalgic glimpse into the past. If you want more details about this place, check out its Wikipedia entry. -via Digg