Cartersville in Bartow County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

First Painted Coca-Cola Wall

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

1. First Painted Coca-Cola Wall Marker

Inscription. The first painted wall sign to advertise Coca-Cola was placed on this wall for the Coca-Cola Company in 1894. The sign was restored in 1989.

Coca-Cola is a trademark of the Coca-Cola Company.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 34° 9.895′ N, 84° 47.734′ W. Marker is in Cartersville, Georgia, in Bartow County. It is on West Main Street (Georgia Route 61/293) east of South Public Square, on the left when traveling west. The marker and Coca-Cola painting are on the east facing wall of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 W Main St, Cartersville GA 30120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of

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the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Friendship Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Tribute on Monument / 38 Names on Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Asa Griggs Candler (within shouting distance of this marker); Major General Pierce Manning Butler Young, CSA (within shouting distance of this marker); Rudy York (within shouting distance of this marker); General William T. Wofford, CSA (within shouting distance of this marker); William H. Stiles (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles H. Smith - "Bill Arp" (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cartersville.

More about this marker. The Young Brothers Pharmacy closed in March 2024 after 130 years. At the time of this visit, a new business was in the process of opening.

Also see . . . A First in Coca-Cola Advertising. From the Cartersville Bartow County Tourism website

The sign on the side of Young Brothers Pharmacy in downtown
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

2. First Painted Coca-Cola Wall and Marker
The marker is between the Coca-Cola and Young Brothers Pharmacy section of the wall.
Cartersville has been authenticated by the Coca-Cola Company as the first of its kind. It dates back to 1894, when an industrious Coca-Cola syrup salesman named James Couden put down his order pad and picked up a paintbrush to create the sign in hopes of encouraging thirsty train riders to stop and drink Coca-Cola®.

Buried under 25 layers of paint, the sign might have been lost forever; but, Pharmacy Owner Dean Cox, restored and restored the sign as it first appeared more than a century ago.

(Submitted on May 26, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

3. First Painted Coca-Cola Wall Marker

Larger view of the former Young Brothers Pharmacy building. The pharmacy closed in March 2024.

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

4. First Painted Coca-Cola Wall Marker

Larger view of the former Young Brothers Pharmacy building. The pharmacy closed in March 2024.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 154 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 26, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.