When did the first McDonald's open?

The original McDonald's first opened in 1940, but the franchised McDonald's first opened in April of 1955.

The original (Dick and Mac) McDonald's was founded in 1940 by the McDonald brothers. But, the franchised company that we know as McDonald'(Ray Krok)today began in Des Plaines, Illinois in April of 1955.

The original and first McDonald's was in San Bernardino, California. Mr. Kroc, a milkshake blender salesman, bought the company from the McDonald brothers in 1961. He located the new headquarters in his home state of Illinois. Regardless of WHAT the corporate website says, the first-ever McDonald's Hamburger Stand was built in San Bernardino.