Battle Creek in Calhoun County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Postum Cereal Company / Postum Cereal Company Factory
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 12, 2021
1. Postum Cereal Company / Postum Cereal Company Factory Marker
Side 1
Charles William “C. W.” Post (1854-1914) began his breakfast empire in 1892 when he opened La Vita Inn sanitarium on this site. Post’s first commercial success occurred in 1894 when he created the hot beverage Postum. In 1896 he organized the Postum Cereal Company. His continued experiments with grains resulted in Grape-Nuts, his first cold cereal, in 1897. In 1908-09 sales from Grape Nuts, Postum, and Post Toasties surpassed $5 million. Upon Post’s death, his daughter Marjorie ran the company, continuing to advertise extensively and expanding the product line. In 1929 Postum became the General Foods Corporation. The Philip Morris Companies purchased General Foods in 1985, and the plant became part of Kraft Foods in 1989.
Breakfast cereal production began on this site in 1894 when C. W. Post perfected his Postum drink. Remarkable as a factory with structures dating from as early as 1895, the complex reflects the evolution of cereal making. Post began commercial production in one barn. Eventually everything from research to grain processing to packaging occurred here. Known during the early 1900s as the “white city” because of the widespread use of white paint, the complex grew to include grain silos, a power plant, offices,
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Erected 2003 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number S0678.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.
Location. 42° 18.583′ N, 85° 9.69′ W. Marker is in Battle Creek, Michigan, in Calhoun County. Marker is at the intersection of Cliff Street and Marjorie Street, on the right when traveling west on Cliff Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 275 Cliff St, Battle Creek MI 49014, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sojourner Truth Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Battle Creek Centennial Celebration (approx. one mile away); C. W. Post / C.W. Post Monument (approx. one mile away); James and Ellen White (approx. one mile away); Battle Creek City Hall (approx. one mile away); Seirn B. Cole House (approx. one mile away); U.S.S. Maine Memorial
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 12, 2021
2. Postum Cereal Company / Postum Cereal Company Factory Marker
Side 2
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 12, 2021
3. Postum Cereal Company / Postum Cereal Company Factory Marker
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 12, 2021
4. Postum Cereal Company Factory
A view of some of the production buildings at this facility
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 670 times since then and 187 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 15, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
