As America Turns 250, General Mills Reflects on 160 Years of Shared Traditions and Milestones

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, General Mills is marking its own 160th anniversary of evolving alongside families and communities.

Founded on the Minneapolis riverfront in 1866, the Washburn Crosby Company officially became General Mills in 1928 after merging with several regional millers, establishing one of the country's earliest food companies. Since then, General Mills’ history has been intertwined with America's, evolving through periods of industrial expansion, wartime resilience and cultural change.

Over the last 160 years, General Mills has introduced many of the country’s favorite foods by consistently adapting to consumer needs and tastes. Today, General Mills’ brands like Gold Medal, Betty Crocker, Cheerios, Pillsbury, Nature Valley and Old El Paso are found in more than 90% of households across the country.

Let’s take a look back at the milestones that got us here.

From Flour Mills to American Innovation

The same spirit of innovation that drives General Mills today can be traced back to its earliest days in the flour milling industry. Founder Cadwallader Washburn helped pioneer innovations that transformed modern milling, including revolutionary new safety systems and steel roller technology following a devastating mill explosion in 1878. Rather than patenting the improvements, Washburn made the technology available across the industry, helping improve safety standards in flour mills nationwide.

The Gold Medal flour brand emerged after winning top honors at the 1880 Millers’ International Exhibition and quickly became one of the country’s best-known baking brands.

Introducing Americas Favorite Food Brands

As the country entered the 20th century, General Mills expanded beyond flour to help shape how families cooked and ate at home. Betty Crocker was introduced in 1921 to answer consumers’ cooking and baking questions, quickly becoming one of the most recognized and trusted voices in American homes. Through radio programs, cookbooks, recipes and household advice, Betty Crocker became part of generations of family traditions and celebrations.

General Mills also helped define the ready-to-eat cereal category by pioneering not just new products, but new ways of reaching American families. Wheaties was an advertising trailblazer introducing the first singing radio commercial, or jingle, performed by the Wheaties Quartet on Christmas Eve in 1926. Through its sponsorship of baseball radio broadcasts, the brand coined the legendary slogan “The Breakfast of Champions,” developing a longstanding connection to American sports culture that endures to this day.

Following this success, General Mills introduced Cheerios in 1941, as a quicker alternative to oatmeal but with the same nutritional value. Under its original name, Cheerioats, the brand debuted the first female cereal mascot Cheeri O’ Leary, reflecting the era's rise of women in the workforce. The cereal was later renamed Cheerios and went on to become one of the country’s most recognized breakfast staples.

Supporting American Families Through Times of Change

During the Great Depression and World War II, General Mills introduced products designed to help families stretch ingredients and simplify meal preparation, including Bisquick and Betty Crocker soup mixes. The company also contributed to wartime innovation efforts, developing technology and equipment for the U.S. military while helping expand access to enriched foods and nutrition guidance for consumers.