Terre Haute is birthplace of the Coke bottle

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) – Just last year, the Coca-Cola bottle celebrated its 100th anniversary. It’s a bottle that has its ‘roots’ in Terre Haute.

One year later, the state of Indiana chooses to include the Coke bottle in its Bicentennial Celebration.

Inside to ‘Coke Corridor’ inside the Vigo County Historical Society Museum you’ll find a Coca-Cola collection.

“The Coca-Cola bottle is famous world-wide, and the connection to Terre Haute is the fact it was actually designed in Terre Haute, Indiana at the root glass factory in 1915,” said Marylee Hagen, Vigo County Historical Society.

Hagan says Coca-Cola actually put on a contest, and Chapman Root’s Company iconic bottle won out. The root glass company made Coca-Cola’s bottle in Terre Haute until moving to Florida in the 1950’s.

This iconic bottle will have a place in Indiana’s Bicentennial Celebration.

“We’re really proud to report that the Coke bottle is one of the 200 objects in the 200 objects exhibit at the Indiana State Museum,” Hagen continued.

In other words, the state recognizes this bottle’s contributions to Indiana’s history. It contributed to this area’s economy for decades.

The glass company at 3rd and Voorhees employed several men for decades making this bottle. Coca-Cola also operated bottling and distribution centers throughout the area.

Most of these facilities no longer exist today.

Terre haute hasn’t lost all of its facilities. The building behind me is a distribution center, and you’ll find it at 8th Avenue and Lafayette.

In the future, look for Terre Haute to take better advantage of its direct connection with the Coca-Cola bottle – branding itself as the birthplace of the bottle.

Hopefully bringing more visitors to the city where it all began.