A landmark commercial building in historic Downtown Monroe is linked to the origins of the Coca-Cola bottling and distribution operation in the country. It is also the centerpiece to the revitalization of the downtown area and the city’s master plan. The property, located at 215 Walnut Street, served as headquarters for the Ouachita Coca-Cola Bottling Company and the Ouachita Candy Company during the early 20th century. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 5, 2013. Joseph Augustus Biedenharn was credited as the first person to bottle Coca-Cola at his wholesale candy company in Vicksburg, Mississippi, creating the model of bottling-distributor franchise that still exists today. According to the Sanborn Maps of 1926, the tenants of the building have included the Ouachita Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Ouachita Candy Company, American Railway Express Company, Monroe Transfer & Warehouse Company and the Louisiana Paper Warehouse.